'Timbuktu Locals Said to Have Rescued Ancient Texts'

PRI's The World, Timbuktu Locals Said to Have Rescued Ancient Texts, 29 Jan 13

New Photo of Kidnapped Australian posted on Facebook

Yahoo! News, New Photo of Kidnapped Australian posted on Facebook, 31 Jan 2013 "The photo was reportedly posted on Facebook by a group called Al Harakatul Al-Islamiyyah, believed to be a reference to the name of terrorist group, the Abu Sayyaf."

Grand mufti approves death penalty for 'Innocence of Muslims' producers

egyptindependent.com, Grand mufti approves death penalty for 'Innocence of Muslims' producers "Egypt's Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa has approved a death sentence delivered in absentia for seven Coptic Egyptian expats accused of producing and acting a movie deemed insulting to Islam."

Hamas Vows Crackdown On Collaborators With Israel

al-monitor.com, Hamas Vows Crackdown On Collaborators With Israel, "Communication with the agents takes place with utmost secrecy for fear of exposure. Israeli intelligence has taken advantage of the spread and easy use of mobile devices and the internet, which provide cheap security compared to other means. "The language of communication between an agent and his Israeli recruiter is usually "Arabic and Hebrew." Also, a "code" is used to denote specific words, including special numbers and encrypted names. The agents send urgent, regular and secret information using the Internet, mainly via MSN and email, or dead drops."

Bolstering Education and Science in the Arab World

Council on Foreign Relations, Bolstering Education and Science in the Arab World, 29 Jan 2013 "The good news is that the brewing revolution in higher education–driven by new technologies and online learning–provides an unprecedented opportunity for students anywhere in the world to access information and knowledge. (MOOCs is my new favorite word.) With an internet connection, a student in Cairo can now take a course on artificial intelligence at Stanford. A student in Tunis can watch Khan Academy videos explaining calculus."

'Citizens still bipolar about Youtube ban'

pakistantoday.com, Citizens still bipolar about Youtube ban, 30 Jan 2013 "“The purpose of using You Tube is far beyond listening music and downloading movies. We watch documentaries, tutorials, lectures and other informative videos regarding academic needs,” Muhammad Usman, a student at International Islamic University, Islamabad told Pakistan Today."

Press TV perspective on Cyber Attacks

Press TV, US, Israel constantly conducting cyber attacks against Iran: Eric Draitser, 30 Jan 2013 "An analyst says the United States, Israel and Western imperial powers have a ‘long-standing policy’ of using cyber attacks as a form of aspersion particularly against the Islamic Republic of Iran."

(Re-)connecting Timbuktu

CSM, In Timbuktu, a giant task of reconnecting a remote city to the world "When the Internet got knocked out three weeks ago here in Timbuktu, Islamist militants who then ran the city did what most of us would do: They harassed their service provider."

Twitter account of al Shabaab Somali militant group is closed

IDG, Twitter account of al Shabaab Somali militant group is closed, 28 Jan 2013 "The Twitter account of Somali Islamic militant group al Shabaab has been closed following the group's use of the microblogging site to link to videos of Kenyan hostages, mock rivals and claim responsibility for several bombings in Kenya."

Rapping the revolution

alarabiya.net, Rapping the revolution: Syrian sets to war music "The rap music scene is prolific in the Middle East as a whole, including in Syria, with more and more young people turning to the spoken word as a form of expression amid extreme violence."

Russian woman joins Syrian opposition fighters

alarabiya.net, Russian woman joins Syrian opposition fighters

Afghanistan's New Generation

LA Times, Afghanistan's New Generation "Although large parts of the population still struggle to survive in overcrowded slums, these teens and young adults live in modern apartments, shop at Western-style malls and supermarkets, swap text messages on their cellphones, celebrate weddings at neon-decked halls and are connected to the world through television, movies and the Internet." Photos/commentary (with tech references)

Mali

BBC - Podcasts and Downloads - From Our Own Correspondent:

"Andrew Harding travels to the centre of Mali to find out how the fight against the Islamist rebels is affecting life in one small country town. " This was a particularly interesting report.

“I Have The Picture!” Egypt’s Photographic Heritage between Neoliberalism and Digital Reproduction (Part II)

jadaliyya.com, “I Have The Picture!” Egypt’s Photographic Heritage between Neoliberalism and Digital Reproduction (Part II):

Instagramming the Middle East: 15 Views

al-monitor.com, Instagramming the Middle East: 15 Views:

an interesting selection of pix from al-monitor.com

Cyber criminals in Dubai

Dubai fares well against cyber-criminals | GulfNews.com: "Al Hajri [Lt Colonel Saeed Al Hajri, Director of the Electronic Crimes of Dubai Police Criminal And Investigation Department] said cybercrimes in the UAE are mainly defamation, extortion and financial fraud using the internet. This is in addition to crimes that contravene Islamic and Arabic culture."

‘Sharia squads’

These misguided Muslim ‘Sharia squads’ are playing right into the EDL's hands - Comment - Voices - The Independent:

opinion piece by Hasnet Lais

Beware of the Dinosaur

Saudi Arabia: Forced into extinction | The Economist "Like much that moves in Twitter-mad Saudi Arabia these days, it started with a single message. A lady in Dammam, the hub of the oil industry on the kingdom’s Gulf coast, tweeted a complaint from a local shopping mall. Agents of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CPVPV), she said, were causing an unpleasant scene. The government-salaried vigilantes, a bearded auxiliary police force familiarly known to Saudis as the Hayaa, had marched officiously into an educational exhibit featuring plaster models of dinosaurs, turned off the lights and ordered everyone out, frightening children and alarming their parents."

Research: “Seeds of Change” in Tahrir Square and Beyond: People Power or Technological Convergence?

A Douai, “Seeds of Change” in Tahrir Square and Beyond: People Power or Technological Convergence?, American Communication Journal
2012 SPECIAL ISSUE (Volume 14, Issue 3)

"This article addresses the role of social media in the Arab Spring, specifically focusing on how
Twitter was used during the Egyptian uprising. Prior to discussing Twitter, however, the article
situates the topic of social media and socio-political change within a larger context: The
“democratic“ shifts that we are witnessing today in the region are outcomes of deep and
historical transformations Arab societies have been going through. These transformations can be
summed up in the convergence of “technological” and “human” variables that have convulsed
the Arab public sphere and led to the current democratic wave. In other terms, the article’s
central argument is that the “seeds” of change are both “technological” and “human.” The case
of Twitter and Web 2:0 will further support and illustrate this unprecedented convergence."

Looks interesting.  Have yet to read it.

Primer on Jihadi Players in Algeria and Mali, Pt. 2: Belmokhtar & Those Who Sign with Blood « jihadica

jihadica.com, Primer on Jihadi Players in Algeria and Mali, Pt. 2: Belmokhtar & Those Who Sign with Blood « jihadica:

Report: Retweeting religion

Friday Times, Report: Retweeting religion by Saba Imtiaz "very major religious-political party in Pakistan - from the Jamaat-e-Islami to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazlur Rehman) and the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat - has an extensive social media presence, from multiple Twitter accounts to Facebook pages. The Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat also uses an online messenger client to stream speeches and have chats. Tune in to the party's channel and one is inundated for hours with messages of 'kafir kafir Shia kafir'."

Google and the future of search

Google and the future of search: Amit Singhal and the Knowledge Graph | Technology | The Observer:

In Chaos in North Africa, a Grim Side of Arab Spring

In Chaos in North Africa, a Grim Side of Arab Spring - NYTimes.com "The crisis in Mali is not likely to end soon, with the militants ensconcing themselves among local people and digging fortifications."

David Cameron calls for 'global response' after Algerian hostage crisis

David Cameron calls for 'global response' after Algerian hostage crisis | World news | The Guardian "The prime minister said the seizure of a Saharan gas facility by a group of international jihadists last week was a stark reminder of the threat from terrorism the world over. He pledged a global response to what he described as a global threat."

Veteran jihadist claims Algeria siege for al Qaeda

Veteran jihadist claims Algeria siege for al Qaeda | Reuters "A veteran Islamist fighter claimed responsibility on behalf of al Qaeda for the Algerian hostage crisis, a regional website reported on Sunday, tying the bloody desert siege to France's intervention across the Sahara in Mali."

Revolutionary Cyber-Guard?

Revolutionary Cyber-Guard? Iran boosts Web-warfare capabilities after centrifuge virus attack — RT "The 2010 cyber-attack on an Iranian uranium enrichment facility, which destroyed more than 1,000 centrifuges, has sparked a buildup of Tehran’s hacking capabilities, a US cyberwarfare commander said. Tehran may soon be a formidable foe in cyberspace."

Mother of US-born militant confronts al-Shabaab threat

Mother of US-born militant confronts al-Shabaab threat: 'It's in God's hands' | World news | guardian.co.uk "Having already lost her son to extremist ideology, his family back in the town of Daphne, Alabama, may now face the prospect of never seeing him alive again."

Chechen Police Declare Meme Encyclopedia 'Extremist'

Chechen Police Declare Meme Encyclopedia 'Extremist' | Russia | RIA Novosti: "In a show of disregard for the Internet’s postmodern irony, Chechen police demanded on Tuesday to block access nationwide to a humorous Russian encyclopedia of online culture accused of “extremism.”

"Police lumped Lurkmore.to together with an online resource on Islamic insurgency, ImamTV, saying in a statement that both are guilty of hatemongering and promoting suicide and drug abuse."

The world's first cyberwar has started - Security Spotlight

computerworlduk.com, The world's first cyberwar has started - Security Spotlight "We can now say with some certainty that the world’s first cyberwar is upon us, unfolding behind the scenes with a rising level of intensity, so far pretty much ignored by all but the need-to-knows.

"On one side are the US and its European and Middle-Eastern allies, on the other Iran and perhaps its proxies in Syria, Lebanon and a handful of more isolated groups across the non-aligned Islamic world."

Pakistan: The populist cleric calling for revolution

Pakistan: The populist cleric calling for revolution | GulfNews.com: "The silence of the generals in Rawalpindi, the home to military HQ, and the slick organisation of the masses in the street with an internet, email and Twitter campaign, have also been interpreted as signs of collusion."

Electronic Discrimination: Iran’s Web-based Enemies - opinion piece

countercurrents.org, Electronic Discrimination: Iran’s Web-based Enemies By Kourosh Ziabari 'The internet explorer “Google Chrome” is unavailable for downloading to the Iranian users, and so are the instant messaging software “Google Chrome”, picture sharing platform “Picasa” and the geographical surveying application “Google Earth.” Although the Iranian computer geeks know tricks to circumvent these limitations, for the majority of Iranian computer users these services are not easy-to-access."

Sitting down for coffee with Salafists

Sitting down for coffee with Salafists | Germany | DW.DE | 16 Jan 2013 "Abu Nagie and Abu Dujana met each other at a mosque in the city of Frechen near Cologne. They've been missionaries for eight years now. They call it "da'wa," an invitation to Islam. Abu Nagie also talks about "marketing" or "charity." Initially, they distributed CDs of sermons, which they started uploading to the Internet. They also give away Korans and hold seminars - and have gained a following."

KSA net

alarabiya.net, Al Arabiya number one social media brand in Saudi Arabia see the infographic for more

"Fatwa frenzy"

alarabiya.net, Saudi Mufti says media attention drives preachers’ fatwa frenzy "Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz aal-Sheikh criticized on Sunday the arbitrary releasing of religious edicts by various Muslim preachers."

'World media split on Mali intervention'

BBC News, World media split on Mali intervention, 14 Jan 2013 "In the wider world, support for France's actions is mixed, with some Chinese and Middle Eastern writers expressing suspicion about France's motives."

#Mali

Global Voices, 2012: A Year of Revolt and Social Change in Francophone Countries: Part 1 of 2 "During 2012 Malians took over social networks. More effective than the mainstream media, internet users shared images of amputations committed by Islamists under the hashtag #Mali and exchanged views on the new powers, notably on messaging list Malilink."

International Islamic Conference on Prophetic Sunnah

Bahrain News Agency, International Islamic Conference on Prophetic Sunnah urges the UN to enact laws which incriminate the desecration of religions, 13 Jan 2013 "The conference recommended the creation of effective, qualified internet websites in order to introduce the prophetic story and to instill the love of the prophet Mohammed (PBUH) in children and to educate them on Islamic ethics and proposed the creation of a specialized international academy in order to spread prophetic guidance and to respond to misunderstandings and to train teachers in order to teach the prophet's story through modern and attractive teaching methodology."

Biswa Ijtema

manoramaonline.com, Three million join Bangladesh Muslim gathering "Devotees flocked to the River Turag at Tongi, some 40 kilometres north of Dhaka, as an imam from India led the concluding prayer of the Biswa Ijtema, or World Muslim Congregation."

University's new centre to study rise in anti-Islam far right

Guardian, University's new centre to study rise in anti-Islam far right, 14 Jan 2013 "Teesside University forms organisation focusing on increase in violent anti-Islamic sentiment and possible Breivik-style attacks."

Complications of web-cam marriages

Emirates: Couple wed on Skype, arrested for illicit relation - United Arab Emirates - ANSAMed.it: "He is a 39-year-old Pakistani cleric and she is a 19-year-old student who lives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They got regularly married on Skype under Islamic law with a person who performed the wedding and two witnesses. Three months later they consummated the marriage but the father of the bride has reported the man to Emirates authorities claiming he raped his daughter."

Complications of web-cam marriages

Al Qaeda Rises in Yemen's Chaos, book review

YemenOnline - Voice of Yemen : Al Qaeda Rises in Yemen's Chaos, book review:

book review

Does Decapitating Terrorist Leaderships Work?

Anne Speckhard, RUSI - Does Decapitating Terrorist Leaderships Work?: "In the last two-years, international counter-terrorism strategies have focused on decapitating terrorist leaderships. But the threat and the ideology remains. In the coming year it is important to address the psychological motivations for conducting terrorist acts." Article/analysis/opinion piece

Tightly-controlled social media access to replace censorship in Iran:.

Middle East Online::Tightly-controlled social media access to replace censorship in Iran, "Iran is designing "intelligent software" that would give citizens restricted and controlled access to banned social networking sites, local media Sunday quoted police chief Esmaeil Ahmadi Moghadam as saying."

Pakistan to unblock YouTube after installing filtration

Pakistan to unblock YouTube after installing filtration - UPI.com "The Pakistani government would unblock YouTube once a filtration system has been put in place, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said."

B'klyn man gets 15 years for attempt to join jihad terror group

B'klyn man gets 15 years for attempt to join jihad terror group - NYPOST.com: "Agron Hasbajrami, 28, an Albanian citizen legally residing in the US, was lured away from his New York City architecture career after becoming radicalized on Internet web sites preaching holy war."

CFP "Muslim Religious Media and the Arab Spring"

EURAMES Info Services points to the following:

"Muslim Religious Media and the Arab Spring", Doha, Qatar, 8-10 April 2013

"A Workshop Organised by the Center for the Study of Contemporary Muslim Societies of the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, in collaboration with the New Islamic Public Sphere Programme of the University of Copenhagen

"The workshop will explore the processes of the creation, dismantling and reproduction of religiously-defined political influence in the context of the on-going political upheavals across the Arab World. It aims to trace the evolution of the political role of Muslim Arab religious media and to speculate about its future. It will discuss the claims to consensus it makes and the areas of debate it creates. Papers presented are expected to give special attention to the use of various textual sources and material for creating and deconstructing political arguments.

"If interested, please send abstracts (no more than 250 words) to arabspring@qfis.edu.qa no later than 20 January 2013. Final papers are not to be more than 8000 words. We will cover all expenses, including air travel (economy). Please note that this workshop aims to produce an edited volume, participants are expected to wish to contribute to this publication."

Please contact them (and not myself!). It sounds like a useful workshop.  

New Internationalist Magazine - 'Internet Showdown'

New Internationalist Magazine, 'Internet Showdown'.: "New Internationalist December 2012 Issue was entitled 'Internet Showdown': "Internet rights are the human rights of the future - and a global community of computer geeks wants to help you secure them. December's issue of New Internationalist gets all techie, dives into the world of free and open source software and meets those digital pioneers offering protection from snooping governments and marketeers." Haven't read this yet, but looks relevant for readers of this blog

Saudi Arabia Faces New Challenge From Its Restive Youth

Saudi Arabia Faces New Challenge From Its Restive Youth - Al-Monitor, Barbara Slavin for Al-Monitor. posted on Mon, Jan 7: "On Twitter, the social media site now used by about 400,000 Saudis, anonymous government tweeters are derided as “egg people” because they don’t post their pictures and are thus depicted only by white ovals."

Ansar al-Sharia: Al-Qaeda's Response to Arab Spring

Ansar al-Sharia: Al-Qaeda's Response to Arab Spring - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East, By: Mohammad Abu Rumman, Hassan Abu Haniya. Translated from Al-Hayat (Pan Arab).:

"The emergence of Ansar al-Sharia [Partisans of Islamic Law] in several Arab countries as democratic uprisings sweep across the Arab world represents a new phase of the Salafist-jihadist movement and its strategic goals."

Cell Phones Fatwa Invites India Uproar

Cell Phones Fatwa Invites India Uproar - Asia-Pacific - News - OnIslam.net "A new fatwa by a leading Islamic seminary banning the use of multimedia cell phones on its campus is inviting uproar over the right of students to get access to advanced technology."

Pakistan's problematic record on Internet restrictions

Pakistan's problematic record on Internet restrictions - Blog - Committee to Protect Journalists "The fleeting nature of YouTube's availability in Pakistan this weekend--the site, which has been banned in the country since September, was unblocked for a whole three minutes--is only the latest emblem of Islamabad's erratic and confounding approach to Internet censorship. Those who have been hoping for less opaque tactics apparently are in for disappointment."

Iran’s Most Memorable Internet Moments in 2012

Iran’s Most Memorable Internet Moments in 2012 · Global Voices