Sowar Magazine - Minute 22 Special Edition

Issue n° 004 Oct+Nov/2008 Lebanon : L.L. 7,500

Editorial Director Hassan Osman Responsible Manager Laure Raphael Account Director Maisaa Hamadeh Office Manager Kawthar Salam Contributing Editors Eric Keller Jesse Biggs Kevin Wiley Art Director Mïchelle Bezdikian Masthead Calligraphy Ali Assi Printed in Lebanon by Dots-Dar El Kotob

Editor’s note

What a fun outcome! For this issue, the team at Sowar Magazine decided to spearhead an entertaining social experiment by involving all our fans. We asked those who were living in any of the twenty-two Arab countries to take a single photo at the exact same time: 22 August 2008 at 2:22pm. Our objective was to document what everyone was doing at the same moment in different parts of the world – regardless of how interesting or mundane their actions at that instance might have been.

Minute 22 has been one exciting thrill ride since we launched it. We received hundreds of photos from all over the region, and I wanted to thank all those who contributed to the project. Unfortunately, we were unable to publish all the pictures we received, but we promise to continue involving you with more exciting initiatives in the near future.

This entire special edition of Sowar Magazine reflects a single snapshot of time: a memoir of the same moment of different people in different locations.

I hope you’ll enjoy flipping through it as much as I did.

Sincerely Yours,

Sowar is a bi-monthly journalistic and documentary photography magazine For advertising, please call 03-909666 or e-mail info@sowarmag.com For submissions, please e-mail your sample photos and ideas to submissions@sowarmag.com Copyright © Pix S.A.R.L. and photographers. All rights reserved.

Pix S.A.R.L Sowar Magazine P.O.Box 14-5242 Beirut, Lebanon Tel: 03-909666 info@sowarmag.com www.sowarmag.com

Hassan Osman Editorial Director

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Lebanon : L.L. 7,500

minute 22

The number 22 represents the number of countries in the League of Arab States

As part of a fun project, Sowar Magazine asked everyone who lived in the Arab world to take a single photo on Friday, 22 August 2008, at exactly 2:22 pm Lebanon local time. The intent of the initiative was to document, through pictures, what everyone was doing at the same moment: Minute 22

A Sowar Magazine Special Edition

To account for the difference in time zones among the countries, the pictures were taken at the following local times:

Egypt Iraq Jordan Lebanon Saudi Arabia Syria Yemen Libya Sudan Morocco Tunisia Kuwait Algeria UAE Bahrain Qatar Oman Mauritania Somalia Palestine Djibouti Comoros

2:22pm 2:22pm 2:22pm 2:22pm 2:22pm 2:22pm 2:22pm 1:22pm 2:22pm 12:22pm 1:22pm 2:22pm 12:22pm 3:22pm 2:22pm 2:22pm 3:22pm 11:22am 2:22pm 2:22pm 2:22pm 2:22pm

min ute :2 2

Sowar Magazine 2:22 PM

This special edition of Sowar Magazine is entirely dedicated to the Minute 22 project.

All the photos you see in the following pages were taken at the exact same time.

I work at Aljazeera English Channel in Doha, and I took a shot of myself that showed the local “Minute 22� times in Washington DC, Kuala Lumpur, London and Qatar in the background.

Doha, Qatar

> Photo: Fadi El Benny

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Minute 22 7

Friday is the holiday for migrant laborers. The few greenery places in the city are filled with relaxed migrants from many countries.

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Photo: Deema Abdullah Al-Ghunaim

Kuwait City, Kuwait

Salmiya, Kuwait

< Photo: Danah Jbara

My father was napping right before lunch was served.

He snoozed but never let go of the TV remote!

8 Minute 22

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Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia Photo: Jaffar Ahmed

After Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prayer, I had lunch with some friends. I took this picture of my brother-in-law while we were resting. Although photography is restricted in this area due to security reasons, I was able to sneak a shot. sowar : oct+nov/08

Minute 22 9

This was during a camel race arranged for a cultural festival in Wadi Rum. A bystander was throwing something at the race track, but I understood later that both him and the boy on the camel were friends and was doing that just for fun.

10 Minute 22

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< Photo: Salah Malkawi

Wadi Rum, Jordan

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Minute 22 11

A self timing picture while driving in my car on Corniche Al Mazraa.

I was buying a wood stand as a fly

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cover holder for my babyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bed.

Photo: Mirna Kishli

12 Minute 22

Beirut, Lebanon

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Alexandria, Egypt <

Photo: Gilan Kamal

My friend Koof and I on the way to the beach in the North Coast.

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Minute 22 13

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Photo: Khaled Ben Mansour

Tunis, Tunisia

Having a coffee break in a cafĂŠ on Friday before resuming work.

14 Minute 22

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Jeddah, Saudi Arabia <

Photo: Shada Al-Ahmadi I have muscle atrophy and those were donuts I made on this day.

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Minute 22 15

> Photo: Abdallah El Binni Running from the heat in Doha. Nobody was walking around at that time; the temperature was around 42 degrees Celsius.

Doha, Qatar

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Minute 22 17

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Photo: Yahya Oueini

Beirut, Lebanon

My hobby is to take pictures and I think this snapshot will last forever.

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Damascus, Syria <

Photo: Ghalia Sarakbi

Self-portrait while working on my computer. 100W is a Facebook Group that I love.

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Minute 22 19

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Photo: Dave Cox

Abu Dhabi, UAE

My friend Saoud Al Mulla plays with his kids at the beach in Abu Dhabi on his Birthday: 22nd August 2008.

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Minute 22 21

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Photo: Ahmed Nafeth Al-Jaabari

Amman, Jordan

We were celebrating my brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Cairo, Egypt

birthday at the exact time of 2:22pm.

> Photo: Dina Mohamed Tawfik Sallam A little girl playing on Korba Street, which is usually blocked on Friday for people to play, sing, draw and pursue other activities.

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24 Minute 22

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A random couple having a walk on the

Photo: Yousif Al-Saleem

Kuwait City, Kuwait

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shore of the Arabian Gulf Sea.

I was at “Sidi Meherzi” beach with my friends reading “Montecore, Un Tigre Unique” when I quickly remembered that it was time to take a picture.

< Photo: Sophia Baraket

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Tunis, Tunisia Minute 22 25

> Photo: Soha Ennaqache

Cairo, Egypt A man who owns a small kiosk was looking through his window at the cars and people after coming back from Friday’s prayers. This area is called “Midan Aljamae” where you can find all kinds of crowded old shops and restaurants.

26 Minute 22

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Minute 22 27

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Photo: Athary Fahad Almubarak

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Driving in Riyadh City.

28 Minute 22

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Jal El Dib, Lebanon <

Photo: Samah El Hakim

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I was on the highway and took a shot of myself while driving.

Minute 22 29

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Photo: Mariam Al Dabbagh

Dubai, UAE

Minute 22 in Dubai came at a time of a lunch celebration with family members on a joyful occasion.

> Photo: Gloriana Choueiri This was taken in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Polish Messâ&#x20AC;? dining room at UNIFIL, Naqoura.

Naqoura, Lebanon 30 Minute 22

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Photo: Ahmed Eriksousy

Right before having lunch with friends in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Al Khoriâ&#x20AC;? restaurant.

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Mashta El Helo, Syria

Photo: Batoul El Hakim

Beirut, Lebanon People on coffee breaks in Starbucks Verdun.

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Minute 22 31

> Photo: Fatima Hajjaji This snake charmer picture was taken in the famous Fanaa Square in Marakesh.

Marrakesh, Morocco 32 Minute 22

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34 Minute 22

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Ladies enjoying a hot summer day on

Photo: Rana El-Chami

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

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one of Jeddah’s sandy beaches.

A free-diver fisherman at “Sede Gaber” Beach.

< Photo: Mohamed Ali Chehimi

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Alexandria, Egypt

Minute 22 35

Me training at a gym in Verdun.

The person who took the picture was my training instructor.

> Photo: Rami Al Khal

Beirut, Lebanon

Dubai, UAE

< Photo: Wissam Daoud

Climbing the mountain with friends indoors due to the scorching weather outside!

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Alexandria, Egypt Photo: Mostafa Khalil Aly

My friend Ahmed (right) and I (left) playing a French sport called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Parkourâ&#x20AC;? which some people think is crazy. sowar : oct+nov/08

Minute 22 37

Ras El Nabaa, Lebanon < Photo: Farah El-Barbir

A random woman I saw balancing a bag containing loaves of bread on 22 Aug 2008 at 2:22pm.

Alexandria, Egypt < Photo:Marwa El-Shatby

A woman was selling â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bokhurâ&#x20AC;? to people coming to the historical Mursi Abul Abbas Mosque to pray.

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Makkah, Saudi Arabia > Photo: Alia Lardhi

I was leaving Makkah after I finished â&#x20AC;&#x153;Omra,â&#x20AC;? and took this pic of a kid with his family while I was standing in front of the hotel entrance waiting for my cab.

Cairo, Egypt > Photo: Amr Nazmi

My little sister Maysoun and my niece Sohaila in our house. sowar : oct+nov/08

Minute 22 39

I’m Saudi Arabian, but this photo was taken at the first Arab Blogger’s meeting in Beirut which I attended. Alex, a Swedish journalist,

Photo: Ahmed Al-Omran

Beirut, Lebanon

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talks to Sassine who is listening with interest.

I was on duty for “Hilal Ahmar” (Red Crescent Society) and had a friend of mine take a photo at Minute 22.

< Photo: Alia Shams

Damascus, Syria 40 Minute 22

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A female student entering the main gate of the American University of Beirut. The clock tower in the background shows a time of 2:22pm.

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Beirut, Lebanon sowar : oct+nov/08

Photo: Hossein Hamam

Minute 22 41

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Photo: Subhan Aziz Ogaily

Amman, Jordan I took this pic while I was in the car heading to have dinner with my family when my alarm rang and I remembered Minute 22.

42 Minute 22

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Al-Oqair Tourism Port, Saudi Arabia <

Photo: Haider M. Al-Tawil

My brother and cousin standing in AlOqair Tourism Port.

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Minute 22 43

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Photo: Jihad Adnan

Sharjah, UAE

I was making coffee after waking up when the time came to shoot the photo.

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Everyone in the cafe was having fun,

Cairo, Egypt <

Photo: Soraya Alaa Darwish

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except for this particular young man who was sitting alone at his table with his nose buried in paperwork.

Minute 22 45

Beirut, Lebanon < Photo: Aya Salami My nephews Kareem, Rayan and Seif cooking pasta.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia < Photo: Suzan Al-Aydeross My little princess Hams.

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Beit Mery, Lebanon Photo: Marc Salameh

Walking into a beach resort, I saw this boy having difficulties with his bags. His friends were calling him to come back to the car but he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to. This is the moment right before he shouted NO! 46 Minute 22

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Damascus, Syria < Photo: Ola Shams Giving my little boy Hamza a shower

Photo: Tala Sharafeddine

Beer Hasan, Lebanon Life with no electricity.

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to freshen up

Photo: Achut Bhandarkar

Manama, Bahrain

My 5 year old Alexander caught looking through the window at dates.

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Minute 22 47

Khartoum, Sudan < Photo: Ibraheem Farah Al-Khalifa A self-portrait of me smoking a â&#x20AC;&#x153;shishaâ&#x20AC;? while waiting for lunch to be served.

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Tarik El Jdeideh, Lebanon Photo: Maha Obeid A view from my home in Tarik Jdeideh; the destruction in the background has been there since the 1982 war.

48 Minute 22

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Yahchouch, Lebanon > Photo: Nabiha Khairallah Me enjoying the sunlight on my face while waiting for my parents to finish eating at my auntâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house.

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Beirut, Lebanon

Photo: Lara Mneimneh Just for fun at Minute 22!

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Minute 22 49

It was Friday prayer time in Libya, and those were the only two men I saw in the empty streets.

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Photo: Ruwida Mohammed Saeed Alorfy

Benghazi, Libya Amman, Jordan < Photo: Shatha Mohammad Alhmoud

I was waiting for some interesting action to occur from my house at Minute 22, and managed to take a shot of the only person who was in the streets of Amman!

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Sodeco, Lebanon

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Photo: Fatima Amine

Men at work. Apparently, not everybody gets to rest at 2:22pm. sowar : oct+nov/08

Minute 22 51

Beirut, Lebanon <

Photo: Rima Rifai

52 Minute 22

We were invited to a Lebanese lunch in Kfarnabrakh, and a 90 year old woman was sitting with us. sowar : oct+nov/08

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Photo: Ramzi Hachisho

Saida, Lebanon I came back home on Friday and saw my cousin getting ready for her afternoon prayer, so I planned this pic as my theme before the Minute 22 time.

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Minute 22 53

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Makkah, Saudi Arabia Photo: Muhammad Lotfi Lokman

I’ve captured this moment at the Sulaimaniyyah Tunnel which is situated just 500m from the “Masjid El Haram” Mosque.

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Caught alone in my office at the time of the picture, I found my two little friends right there on the rails for the perfect frame.

> Photo: Joumana Medlej

Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut, Lebanon < Photo: Vahan Luder Boghos Artinian A look down at the Traffic in Yaaqub Sarrouf Street on August 22, 2008, 2:22PM. sowar : oct+nov/08

Minute 22 55

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Photo: Wadad Saed Hachisho

In flight, Beirut to Doha

At 2:22pm, I was traveling from Beirut to Doha, so I decided to take a picture of the overhead screen which shows us flying over Saudi Arabia.

Beirut, Lebanon > Photo: Tanya Traboulsi I was leaving Beirut from my house to go on a trip to Europe.

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Minute 22 57

Taken on 22 August at 2:22 pm, this photo shows a roadblock created by the Israeli Forces to restrict vehicle traffic between the major Palestinian city of Yatta and the small villages of the South Hebron

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Hills. An Israeli car can be seen traveling in the background.

Photo: Joshua Hough

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West Bank, Palestine

Beirut, Lebanon Photo: Farah Ayoub

I took this photo from my balcony from the first floor exactly at 2:22 while watching an old man crossing the road. It usually takes me less than 1 minute to cross it, but it took him about 15

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minutes because of the traffic!

Photo: Charbel Torbey

Dbayeh, Lebanon

I was at a Spinneys parking lot and there was a car-wash center where I found this car being waxed.

58 Minute 22

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Alexandria, Egypt <

Photo: Yomna Adel Fathi Steha

A photo from my balcony in the sporting zone with a view of â&#x20AC;&#x153;El Tramâ&#x20AC;? and the gate of a sporting club in the background.

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Minute 22 59

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Photo: Kawthar Salam

Beirut, Lebanon I work for Sowar magazine and I was giving some copies for a new subscriber.

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Aley, Lebanon Photo: Farah Hamadeh

Having a walk with my friends at Minute 22.

60 Minute 22

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Photo: Rola Merheb

Tripoli, Lebanon

I saw this man holding his baby on the beach, so I came close and asked if I can take a photo of both of them.

Cairo, Egypt < Photo: Dina Safaa El-Din Tawfik Mom preparing for a quick dip in the pool. sowar : oct+nov/08

Minute 22 61

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Photo: Dr. Roland L. Feghali, DDS,MSD

Beirut, Lebanon We were working at the Orthodontic department of the American University of Beirut Medical Center.

62 Minute 22

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Beirut, Lebanon Photo: Rayya Haddad

Lunch with Gaby in the sunroom. We were eating a feast of cheese pastries, tuna salad, and peaches!

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Minute 22 63

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