Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Turks Protest New Internet Restrictions, in the Streets and Online

Turks Protest New Internet Restrictions, in the Streets and Online - NYTimes.com "Social networks, which have been a source of irritation for the government in recent months as a vehicle for publishing leaks about officials accused of corruption, were soon awash with snapshots and video clips of police firing tear water cannons and tear gas at protesters, who replied by hurling insults and stones at armored police vehicles on Istiklal Street, a popular pedestrian walkway in central Istanbul."

Iranian teacher builds robot to teach prayer

AP, Iranian teacher builds robot to teach prayer "Rezaei who has built a robot to show to children how to execute daily prayers, has innovated an amusing way of encouraging young children to say their daily prayers by using the science of robotics." (this is the original article: also see my post below - this one has the advantage of a range of photographs!)

Iranian school teacher builds robot to teach children prayers

Iranian school teacher builds robot to teach children prayers - Gadgets & Tech - Life & Style - The Independent "Akbar Rezaie now teaches the Koran to boys and girls at the Alborz elementary school in the town of Varamin with the help of his humanoid robot Veldan."

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

FB “Iraqi Revolution” title bug

Facebook says that the ban on creating a pages that has “Iraqi Revolution” as a title was a bug, now fixed - ArabCrunch:



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YouTube conference to be held in Riyadh

YouTube conference to be held in Riyadh - Al Arabiya News:




Mayday: Mars One urges U-turn on Islamic fatwa

Mayday: Mars One urges U-turn on Islamic fatwa - Al Arabiya News:

"A one-way trip to Mars is not “tantamount to suicide,” the organization planning the first manned mission to the planet said on Friday, in response to UAE clerics who had ruled that a colony on Mars would be un-Islamic." a case of mars not barred?

Saudi religious police to monitor social media?

Eman El-Shenawi, Saudi religious police to monitor social media? - Al Arabiya News:

"A Saudi columnist has encouraged the country’s religious police to monitor social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, targeting “evil” accounts that “promote pornography, magic and sorcery.” "In a column published in the Saudi-based al-Madina newspaper on Friday, Lulu al-Hubaishi noted that efforts by the religious police, officially known as the Commission of the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, to target such “vices” should be bolstered."

Norwegian authorities: Ten Norwegian women in holy war

Norwegian authorities: Ten Norwegian women in holy war - AP about Syria: this is a translated version of the story


Googoosh "Behesht"

Googoosh "Behesht" - YouTube: "



Not my usual musical style, but I posted this as it is a prominent subject in areas of social media. Also see the related article alarabiya.net, Iranian pop star releases music video defending LGBT rights

I'm a Social Media Jihadi From Syria

I'm a Social Media Jihadi From Syria, AMA | Vocativ: useful article (I am writing on this issue at present for my next book) "Abu Fulan al-Muhajir is the jihadi for millennials. In between guerilla raids in Syria, he's chatting with his tweeps on Ask.fm. YOLO"

Katy Perry ‘God’ pendant

Katy Perry music video enrages Muslims over ‘God’ pendant - Al Arabiya News I am trying to avoid listening to this ...


Friday, February 21, 2014

Is Islam a DIY Religion?

Is Islam a DIY Religion? - Living Islam - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net "When Helen came to Islam, she’d already done quite a bit of reading around on a lot of Islamic websites and watched loads of YouTubes, she’d joined a couple of chat rooms and asked a lot of questions, and she’d even met up with some Muslims locally."

Going to Mars is ‘Haram,’ new fatwa says

Going to Mars is ‘Haram,’ new fatwa says - Al Arabiya News "A fatwa issued by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment in the UAE claimed a trip to the red planet was prohibited by Islam, local English-language daily Khaleej Times reported Wednesday." Cancel your plans ...

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul loses 80,000 Twitter followers over new internet law

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul loses 80,000 Twitter followers over new internet law - Europe - World - The Independent:




Syria’s Jihadist Twitter Wars

Bill Roggio, Syria’s Jihadist Twitter Wars - The Daily Beast "Jihadists on both sides of the aisle have taken to Twitter to savage the opposite faction for promoting fitna, or strife, within the ranks of the muhajideen. But beyond the rank and file, some important personalities have used Twitter to voice their displeasure."

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Too embarrassed to talk: the vice of pornography in marriage

Too embarrassed to talk: the vice of pornography in marriage | MuslimVillage.com: "Over the last decade, pornography has played a staggering role in the breakup of marriages (with most recent American statistics suggesting that it has contributed in part to 2 out of 3 divorces). The American Muslim community has not been immune to these startling trends. Muslims scholars have reported an increasing number of inquiries related to pornography use and related ailments; several even informing me that they receive more questions on this topic than any other. A simple search through some of the more popular Islamic websites providing answer services confirms this."


Jailed Prophet Mohammed cartoonist faces new trial

Jailed Prophet Mohammed cartoonist faces new trial | eNCA: "A Tunisian jailed for posting caricatures of Prophet Mohammed online is to remain in prison despite a presidential pardon, pending a separate trial for "embezzlement", his lawyer said on Thursday."


Dating sites helping lovelorn Chinese Muslims

Dating sites helping lovelorn Chinese Muslims - Today's Zaman "IYuani.com, a dating site whose name combines the Chinese words for "Islam" and "destiny," and which boasts more than 13,000 registered users, features two default cartoon avatars."

CitizenLab

U of T Internet watchdog group first Canadian winner of prestigious award | Toronto Star "An online watchdog at the University of Toronto that scrutinizes how governments censor and monitor the Internet has become the first Canadian winner of a $1-million prize for its work related to Internet privacy."

Interpersonal Trust on Jihadi Internet Forums

Thomas Hegghammer, Interpersonal Trust on Jihadi Internet Forums (Draft chapter to be included in Diego Gambetta (ed.), Fight, Flight, Mimic: Identity Signalling in Armed Conflicts, forthcoming) - available as a pdf

A Map of the Internet, Drawn to Scale

Quite Possibly the Most Brilliant Thing Ever — A Map of the Internet, Drawn to Scale - PolicyMic:

Islam for Journalists

Islam for Journalists - editors: Lawrence Pintak, Stephen Franklin (SSRC/Edward Murrow College of Communication pdf - available for free download (US oriented, but useful in other contexts). It includes a section on digital Islam. [Lawrence Pintak is one of my former PhD students]

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Jihadism rears its head in the West Bank

Lihi Ben Shitrit, Mahmoud Jaraba, The Daily Star, Jihadism rears its head in the West Bank | Opinion , Commentary

‘Don’t become slaves to the Internet,’ Erdogan tells students

‘Don’t become slaves to the Internet,’ Erdogan tells students - Al Arabiya News: ""Don't become slaves to the Internet, don't become the slaves of computers," he said at a ceremony marking a government initiative to hand out 100,000 tablets to students across the country." Something of a contradiction, perhaps ...

Today's Egypt In A Song

countercurrents.org, Today's Egypt In A Song: Rima Is Back To Her Old Ways By Mamoon Alabbasi "In Egypt, there is a new catchy tune circulating in social media pages. The song, which gives a symbolic description of the current events in Egypt, is sung by an artist who is known for his strong leanings towards the 25th January 2011 revolution." And here is is:

Broken promises: New media revolution in the Arab world

Enrico De Angelis, Broken promises: New media revolution in the Arab world - Opinion - Al Jazeera English "The events of the last three years have indeed showed some limits of these forms of communication and their political implementations. In Egypt and Tunisia, social networks proved to be powerful instruments for mobilisation and for expressing dissent under Mubarak and Ben Ali, but they are much less effective in more articulated political systems where institutional processes such as elections take place. We know how to use new media to react and to exert pressure on authorities, but we don't know yet how to make them suitable for developing long-term political projects and for competing with parties and other more structured organisations."

New and noted: Institutionalising diasporic Islam

Amika Wardana, Institutionalising diasporic Islam: multiculturalism, secularism and the integration of Muslim immigrants in Britain, , Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, Volume 3, Number 1, June 2013: 31-72 refers to digital media

Friday, February 14, 2014

Are Al Qaeda's new leaders are the most dangerous yet?

Are Al Qaeda's new leaders are the most dangerous yet? | Al Bawaba "The key leaders are currently in Iraq and Syria where the jihadists are seeking to establish an Islamic emirate they envision as the first step toward proclaiming a new Islamic caliphate like the one that once stretched from Spain to India."

Jihadist recruitment tops security fears in Tripoli

Daily Star, Jihadist recruitment tops security fears in Tripoli  "A large number of residents refused to speak about their sons fighting in Syria, though some said they were recruited over the Internet. But in terms of actually crossing over into Syria, the families said more than one person was involved, and they were usually never heard from again."

Gulf states step up policing of online media

Gulf states step up policing of online media |AFP/Maan News Agency "Fearful of Arab Spring-inspired unrest, Gulf monarchies have stepped up efforts to monitor and control the media, particularly online, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Wednesday."

In Syria, Western Fundamentalists Are Tweeting From Amongst the Corpses

In Syria, Western Fundamentalists Are Tweeting From Amongst the Corpses - Newsweek: "Jihad is the best tourism," a young Dutchman who calls himself Chechclear posted on his Tumblr. He was riding a camel, grinning, his face filtered into an Instagram haze. Chechclear is one of an estimated 1,700 Europeans fighting in Syria." I have been checking out a number of these sites.

UK 'suicide bomber' Abdul Waheed Majid video posted online

BBC News - UK 'suicide bomber' Abdul Waheed Majid video posted online, 14 Feb 2014

Thursday, February 13, 2014

British 'jihadist' profiles

British jihadist Abdul Waheed Majeed revealed to be former driver for hate cleric Omar Bakri | Mail Online

Netherlands: Internet 'jihadist' radio station

Terrorism watchdog, Islamic radio station at odds - NL Times



UPI, Dutch officials target Internet broadcaster for 'jihadist propaganda', 13 Feb 2014 "Dutch counter-terrorism officials confirmed this week they are seeking to take an Internet radio station accused of broadcasting jihadist propaganda off the air."

albawaba.com, Move aside weed! Is jihad Amsterdam's latest fad? "While agreeing they have broadcast al-Awlaki's lectures, the station noted "these readings are not prohibited" and contended they were played to place them in a historical context and because they were in English."

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Meet Chechclearr, the Web-savvy foreign Islamic militant in Syria

Meet Chechclearr, the Web-savvy foreign Islamic militant in Syria - Los Angeles Times: ""Media is half of jihad," Chechclearr explains in response to one of many questions on the Ask.fm social media network, where curious followers from around the globe have posted a deluge of queries. The running commentary has become a kind of "Ask a Militant" forum."




Rein In the Saudi Religious Police

Manal al-Sharif, Rein In the Saudi Religious Police - NYTimes.com, opinion piece: "Long considered one of the country’s taboo subjects (along with any criticism of King Abdullah), the commission, also known as the mutaween, is now one of Saudi Arabia’s most controversial issues. Tapped to lead the force in 2012, Mr. Sheikh today finds himself facing both scathing public attacks and worsening internal conflict."

​Saudi religious police hunt down Twitter ‘witchcraft’ accounts

​Saudi religious police hunt down Twitter ‘witchcraft’ accounts — RT News:


Israeli soldiers pose for photos while abusing Palestinian child

Israeli soldiers pose for photos while abusing Palestinian child | The Electronic Intifada:




To avoid censorship, Saudis turn to Twitter

helsinkitimes.fi, To avoid censorship, Saudis turn to Twitter:



Arab World Needs High Speed Internet For Social Inclusion

Arab World Needs High Speed Internet For Social Inclusion - Analysis Eurasia Review: refers to the new report: "Broadband Networks in the Middle East and North Africa: Accelerating High Speed Internet Access"




Fatwas against suicide bombing

Mohammad Jamil, Pakistan Observer, Fatwas against suicide bombing "On 12th December 2013, Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti had condemned suicide bombings as grave crimes, reiterating his stance in very strong words. “Killing oneself is a grave crime and a grave sin. Those who kill themselves with explosives are criminals and are hastening their way to hell” Sheikh Abdulaziz was quoted as saying by the pan-Arab, Saudi-owned Al Hayat newspaper. Unfortunately, his fatwa was not given wide publicity; perhaps this was the reason that militants continued with suicide attacks destroying life and property of innocent people."

Monday, February 10, 2014

Lords of Lebanon co-opt the #NotAMartyr campaign

now.mmedia.me, Lords of Lebanon co-opt the #NotAMartyr campaign "Having realized that the #NotAMartyr campaign could draw attention to their poor performance of late, to say nothing of their performance over the past thirty years, the current cast of characters has struck back with its own orchestrated campaign."

'Godfather of multiculturalism' Stuart Hall dies aged 82

'Godfather of multiculturalism' Stuart Hall dies aged 82 | Education | theguardian.com:
"Academics, writers and and politicians have paid tribute to one of Britain's leading intellectuals, the sociologist and cultural theorist Stuart Hall, who has died age 82."

Wednesday, February 05, 2014

Reading List: Electronic Iran

Niki Akhavan, Electronic Iran: The Cultural Politics of an Online Evolution,  - Rutgers University Press:


"Electronic Iran introduces the concept of the Iranian Internet, a framework that captures interlinked, transnational networks of virtual and offline spaces."

The New Snowden Revelation Is Dangerous for Anonymous — And for All of Us

The New Snowden Revelation Is Dangerous for Anonymous — And for All of Us, Gabriella Coleman, Wired Opinion | Wired.com:




Gaming vs. God

Gaming vs. God – Percolator - Blogs - The Chronicle of Higher Education "... a new study in the International Journal for the Psychology of Religion does find that playing video games reduces a sense of the numinous, i.e., the feeling that there is a force out there beyond ourselves and the physical world." Article: International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, Lost in the Myst?: Narrative Video Gaming Decreases Self-Reported Propensity for Spiritual/Religious Experience

DotShabaka (شبكة.)

BBC News - DotShabaka top-level internet domain goes live "The first websites ending in شبكة. - pronounced dot shabaka, and meaning web - went online a day ahead of schedule."

The Pakistani Taliban’s P.R. Offensive

The Pakistani Taliban’s P.R. Offensive - Huma Yusuf, NYTimes.com: "A joke has been circulating among Pakistanis on Twitter: “How to negotiate with the Taliban: Blast. Condemn. Blast. Condemn. Blast. Condemn. #Fail.” It mocks the government’s swiftness at denouncing terrorist attacks while doing too little to stop them."




“Dissent and Revolution in a Digital Age”

“Dissent and Revolution in a Digital Age” – A Conversation with David Faris I have this on my 'to-view' list

Jihadism: Seven Assumptions Shaken by the Arab Spring

Jihadism: Seven Assumptions Shaken by the Arab Spring, Thomas Hegghammer, pomeps.org: "This brief research note is an attempt to identify some of the assumptions, arguments, and hypotheses about militant Islamism that may need to be rethought in light of the events of the past three years. It is not intended as an exhaustive review, but rather as a thought‐provoking brainstorming effort."

Reading List: The Future of News Media in the Arab World

New Book: The Future of News Media in the Arab World | Digital Islam

I'd like to see some reviews of this new book: Al-Jaber, Khalid & Elareshi, Mokhtar. The Future of News Media in the Arab World. Lambert Academic Publishing, 2014. ISBN: 978-3659446641.

Saturday, February 01, 2014

Egypt arrests 11 Islamists for Facebook activity

Egypt arrests 11 Islamists for Facebook activity, AP/Yahoo News, 30 Jan 2014 "Egyptian authorities arrested 11 Muslim Brotherhood members accused of running Facebook pages that incite violence against the police, expanding a crackdown on followers of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi to include social media."