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Pokémon Go-es to the Middle East

Published July 17th, 2016 - 03:09 GMT

It’s the game everyone’s talking about. Across the Middle East, people are playing Pokémon Go-the app that allows you to capture-or rather “catch”-the famed digital creatures in an augmented reality. The creatures appear on the phone’s screen based on the player’s actual location. You may see a Pikachu (an electricity-spewing mouse) on Hamra street in downtown Beirut. You may find a squirtle (a squirrel-turtle hybrid that shoots water) while fighting Daesh (ISIS) on the frontlines north of Mosul, Iraq, as one American volunteer in a Christian paramilitary group did, later criticizing the media for taking it from his personal Facebook without permission or regard for his security in an interview with Al Bawaba. Or you may see the fighting Machop Pokémon in Baghdad like popular Iraqi tweeter Hayder Al Shakeri saw. Take a look at how people across the region are playing the game in some of the coolest locations, and gain a glimpse into gameplay in this historic part of the world.

Adam Lucente

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Pokemon ISIS frontlines Mosul Iraq

Louis, a former US-Marine volunteering in Dwekh Nawsha who does not give his last name for security reasons, made headlines with this pic of a Pokémon above his gun near Mosul. He still enjoys the game. “It could be improved with free open battling and music and little open world events with a bit of story,” Louis told Al Bawaba. (Facebook).

Hayder Shakeri Pokemon Baghdad Iraq

Hayder Al Shakeri has been playing the game in his hometown of Baghdad. “Pokémon Go is getting more popular here than I thought. People talk about it on social media and there are many groups and pages for Iraqi Pokémon Go players,” he told Al Bawaba. (Twitter/HayderSH).

Hayder Shakeri Pokemon Baghdad Iraq

But Baghdad isn’t the easiest place to play. “Security wise it is not the easiest nor the safest to play the game with security forces all around thinking that you are taking a photograph of them, plus it is not smart to walk around this city staring at your phone so we need to be careful,” he said. (Twitter/HayderSH).

Pokemon Hayder Shakeri Baghdad Iraq

Shakeri also says there are few PokeStops and gyms to collect items and battle Pokémon, respectively, as well as scorching heat while playing in Baghdad, but that’s not stopping him and other Iraqis. “I was a huge fan of Pokémon when I was younger, so this is taking me years back in time,” Shakeri said. (Twitter/HayderSH).

St Michael's church Beirut Lebanon Pokemon

Many of the Middle East’s famed landmarks are serving as these PokeStops, like St. Michael’s Church in Beirut, Lebanon, pictured here in the app. (Al Bawaba).

American University Beirut Lebanon Pokemon

Lebanon is going crazy for Pokémon as much as anywhere. This meme depicts the American University of Beirut’s campus crawling with the cat Meowth Pokémon. (Twitter/aubmemes).

Amman Jordan Pokemon Osama Hajjaj

The game has inspired numerous artistic creations. Here, Jordanian artist Osama Hajjaj depicts Jordanians taking pictures of Pokémon at a Jordanian security services office and other places in a cartoon entitled “places not suitable for playing Pokémon in Jordan.” (Facebook/Osama Hajjaj).

Egypt Giza Pyramids Pokemon

The game shows different types of Pokémon based on your location, making it understandable this Zubat-a bat Pokémon-would appear amidst the dark, cool insides of the pyramids in Egypt. (Twitter/emanyxo).

Pokemon wailing wall jerusalem dome of the rock kotel holy city

Finally, a sandshrew near the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Whether this desert Pokémon is Jewish or Muslim remains a mystery. (Twitter/RosenblattTodd).

Pokemon ISIS frontlines Mosul Iraq
Hayder Shakeri Pokemon Baghdad Iraq
Hayder Shakeri Pokemon Baghdad Iraq
Pokemon Hayder Shakeri Baghdad Iraq
St Michael's church Beirut Lebanon Pokemon
American University Beirut Lebanon Pokemon
Amman Jordan Pokemon Osama Hajjaj
Egypt Giza Pyramids Pokemon
Pokemon wailing wall jerusalem dome of the rock kotel holy city
Pokemon ISIS frontlines Mosul Iraq
Louis, a former US-Marine volunteering in Dwekh Nawsha who does not give his last name for security reasons, made headlines with this pic of a Pokémon above his gun near Mosul. He still enjoys the game. “It could be improved with free open battling and music and little open world events with a bit of story,” Louis told Al Bawaba. (Facebook).
Hayder Shakeri Pokemon Baghdad Iraq
Hayder Al Shakeri has been playing the game in his hometown of Baghdad. “Pokémon Go is getting more popular here than I thought. People talk about it on social media and there are many groups and pages for Iraqi Pokémon Go players,” he told Al Bawaba. (Twitter/HayderSH).
Hayder Shakeri Pokemon Baghdad Iraq
But Baghdad isn’t the easiest place to play. “Security wise it is not the easiest nor the safest to play the game with security forces all around thinking that you are taking a photograph of them, plus it is not smart to walk around this city staring at your phone so we need to be careful,” he said. (Twitter/HayderSH).
Pokemon Hayder Shakeri Baghdad Iraq
Shakeri also says there are few PokeStops and gyms to collect items and battle Pokémon, respectively, as well as scorching heat while playing in Baghdad, but that’s not stopping him and other Iraqis. “I was a huge fan of Pokémon when I was younger, so this is taking me years back in time,” Shakeri said. (Twitter/HayderSH).
St Michael's church Beirut Lebanon Pokemon
Many of the Middle East’s famed landmarks are serving as these PokeStops, like St. Michael’s Church in Beirut, Lebanon, pictured here in the app. (Al Bawaba).
American University Beirut Lebanon Pokemon
Lebanon is going crazy for Pokémon as much as anywhere. This meme depicts the American University of Beirut’s campus crawling with the cat Meowth Pokémon. (Twitter/aubmemes).
Amman Jordan Pokemon Osama Hajjaj
The game has inspired numerous artistic creations. Here, Jordanian artist Osama Hajjaj depicts Jordanians taking pictures of Pokémon at a Jordanian security services office and other places in a cartoon entitled “places not suitable for playing Pokémon in Jordan.” (Facebook/Osama Hajjaj).
Egypt Giza Pyramids Pokemon
The game shows different types of Pokémon based on your location, making it understandable this Zubat-a bat Pokémon-would appear amidst the dark, cool insides of the pyramids in Egypt. (Twitter/emanyxo).
Pokemon wailing wall jerusalem dome of the rock kotel holy city
Finally, a sandshrew near the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Whether this desert Pokémon is Jewish or Muslim remains a mystery. (Twitter/RosenblattTodd).

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