Thursday, January 29, 2015

'ISIS is a state with borders stretching from Facebook to Twitter'

raqqa-sl, ISIS is a state with borders stretching from Facebook to Twitter opinion piece

Trying to prevent radicalisation with humour

BBC, Trying to prevent radicalisation with humour "In an unlikely partnership, counter-terrorism police have teamed up with a Muslim comedian in an attempt to prevent British teenagers being radicalised by extremists."

Indonesia: Muslim cleric declares selfies a sin under Islamic law

Daily Mail, Muslim cleric declares selfies a sin under Islamic law "Popular Indonesian cleric Felix Siauw posted a series of tweets explaining why selfies should be avoided – but reserved most of his exasperation for women, who he said were being ‘shameless’ and ‘unpure’."

Monday, January 26, 2015

17 killed in pro-democracy protests in Egypt

Guardian, 17 killed in pro-democracy protests in Egypt on anniversary of 2011 uprising, 25 Jan 2015

“Muslim Face”



onislam.net, “Muslim Face” Launches In Spring  "Catering to the growing influence of social media among Muslims, a new Islamic social media platform, Muslim Face, will be launched this spring to connect Muslims in a socially responsible network.



"“This social platform is an international project. It is designed from a Muslim point of view, but also opens up new opportunities with the rest of the world,” Shoaib Fadie, Muslim Face co-founder, told Zawya on Sunday, January 25."

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Oman: For the Islamic Instagram Generation, Dating Takes Off

Newsweek, For the Islamic Instagram Generation, Dating Takes Off "Marrying for love was rare just 20 years ago in Oman, a peaceful nation of four million that borders Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Arranged matches were for a long time the norm, with minimal contact between a couple before their wedding. But customs are evolving rapidly. Oil wealth, globalisation and widespread higher education have transformed the country since Sultan Qaboos bin Said seized power from his father in 1970 and opened Oman to the world."

Japanese Twitter Users Defy Hostage Crisis By Mocking Islamic State

RFE/RL, Japanese Twitter Users Defy Hostage Crisis By Mocking Islamic State "Hours after the Islamic State (IS) group released a video threatening to behead two Japanese hostages, Japanese Twitter users were defying the militant's threats by creating and sharing images mocking the militants."

On the Internet, opinion swings against hostages

On the Internet, opinion swings against hostages | The Japan Times  "Reckless” and “irresponsible” was the predominant opinion
by prominent bloggers and Twitter users, as armchair commentators
declared the pair had brought the situation upon themselves. They
questioned whether a ransom would be good use of public money."

Profs question targeting Internet 'radicalized boasting'

leaderpost.com, Profs question targeting Internet 'radicalized boasting' "Craig Forcese of the University of Ottawa and Kent Roach of the University of Toronto write that the causal link between radicalized speech on the Internet and violence is still very tenuous. Government officials are better off using existing laws to target the most dangerous Internet materials - those that have clearly crossed a criminal line and are designed to further the aims of terrorist groups, whether it be recruiting or inciting, they said."

NY accountant and accomplice jailed for aiding Al-Qaeda | Economia

Economia, NY accountant and accomplice jailed for aiding Al-Qaeda | Economia "According to the FBI, El-Hafani travelled to Yemen in February 2008. While there, he swore an oath of allegience to Al-Qaeda and delivered money and a number of items, including a laptop, to "terrorist operatives". He is also said to have taught internet communication techniques and supplied the terrorist operatives with encryption tools, allowing them to communicate without detection."

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Japan’s Abe responds to ISIS hostage video

ara.tv, Japan’s Abe responds to ISIS hostage video "Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Tuesday that a threat to the lives of two purported Japanese captives by ISIS militants was unacceptable and that he strongly condemned acts of terrorism."

Monday, January 19, 2015

Ministers look to strip online jihad’s ‘glamour’

euractiv.com, Ministers look to strip online jihad’s ‘glamour’ "European foreign ministers meeting in Brussels today (19 January) will pave the way for concrete measures to prevent online platforms seducing impressionable Muslims with a “glamorous narrative”, officials and diplomats said last week."

Saudis Arrest Man Who Filmed Beheading

thedailybeast.com, Saudis Arrest Man Who Filmed Beheading

French Mayor Bans Oscar-Nominated Muslim Film

tabletmag.com, French Mayor Bans Oscar-Nominated Muslim Film

S. Korean police find ISIS images on missing teen’s computer

alarabiya.net, S. Korean police find ISIS images on missing teen’s computer

The Islamic State Is Starting A TV Channel

vocativ.com, The Islamic State Is Starting A TV Channel "he Islamic State is about to launch its first TV channel, having hitherto relied on social media to spread its violent propaganda. A “teaser” for the new channel was just published on a popular ISIS forum with a link to the page that will host the 24/7 online propaganda channel."

IS video update

Independent, Isis throws gay men off tower in wave of 'retaliatory' public executions

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Raif Badawi

Ian Black, Guardian, A look at the writings of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi – sentenced to 1,000 lashes "Raif Badawi was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for setting up a website that championed free speech in the autocratic kingdom. His blog, the Saudi Free Liberals Forum, was shut down after his arrest in 2012.



"Ian Black analyses extracts from his key published Arabic writings that show a man who risked his freedom to question some of the basic tenets of life in Saudi Arabia - especially the central role of religion."



Also see Amnesty France on their #JeSuisRaif campaign:



Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Yemen’s Top Al-Qaeda Leader Claims Charlie Hebdo Attack

Bloomberg, Yemen’s Top Al-Qaeda Leader Claims Charlie Hebdo Attack

The big joke is that Fox News’ ‘terrorism expert’ advises the FBI

Chris Doyle, alarabiya.com, The big joke is that Fox News’ ‘terrorism expert’ advises the FBI "Emerson has rarely lost an opportunity to sensationalize the Islamist threat and Fox is happy to provide a platform. It probably still will even after this embarrassment. But will the American political classes now abandon him? The U.S. administration, Congress and the various intelligence services should have never have used him and should surely drop him now. It is time that the United States political system was reliant on genuine experts on Islam dedicated to providing high-level impartial assessments, certainly prepared to confront the serious challenges but not blinded by ideological agendas."

Europe faces greatest jihadist threat: Europol

alarabiya.com, Europe faces greatest jihadist threat: Europol "“It is certainly the most serious terrorist threat Europe has faced since 9/11,” Europol Director Rob Wainwright told a British parliamentary committee, referring to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States."

Loud On Charlie Hebdo, Quiet On Boko Haram

huffingtonpost.com, Loud On Charlie Hebdo, Quiet On Boko Haram "Some commentators criticized President Goodluck Jonathan's reticence about the violence in Nigeria's Baga town, and the lack of a broader international outcry on par with the reaction to the attacks in France. The slogan "I am Baga" — a play on "I am Charlie," the expression of solidarity with the targeted French weekly — is now circulating on social media."

New Isis video claims to show a 10-year-old boy executing two Russian spies

Independent, New Isis video claims to show a 10-year-old boy executing two Russian spies "The video, released through Isis’s official propaganda outlet al-Hayat Media, shows two men who it claims are “agents recruited by Russian intelligence” apparently being shot in the desert by a child who is thought to be around 10 years old."

Denmark and 'radicalisation'

Al-Qaeda in Yemen admits responsibility for Charlie Hebdo attacks

Independent, Al-Qaeda in Yemen admits responsibility for Charlie Hebdo attacks


Monday, January 12, 2015

Charlie Hebdo Team responds

Juan Cole, Informed Comment, Paris Rally: Charlie Hebdo Team regret not Parading Caricatures of Hypocritical World Leaders "They [Charlie Hebdo Team] said their biggest regret was that they couldn’t have paraded caricatures from the past pages of Charlie Hebdo of the various heads of state who joined the rally– Benyamin Netanyahu, King Abdallah II of Jordan, of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, of Russian Foreign Minister Sergueï Lavrov, of Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu, and of all the authoritarian heads of state they had lampooned over the years." Also see Le Monde, Le temps d’une manif, la « bande à Charlie », décimée, joue les enfants sages

Analytics on #jesuischarlie

r-shief.org, #jesuischarlie "The most tweeted link in last 24 hours of ‪#‎jesuischarlie‬ is this youtube celebratory clip of the french army, gendarmes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLpqRvAEigo" via VJ Um Amel

Charlie Hebdo: #JeSuisCharlie ou Non?

Sadia Habib, Charlie Hebdo: #JeSuisCharlie ou Non? interesting opinion piece

Man wishes he never put film of Charlie Hebdo gunmen murdering police officer online

Independent, Man wishes he never put film of Charlie Hebdo gunmen murdering police officer online "Jordi Mir, an engineer in his 50s, told the Associated Press he realised putting the footage of Ahmed Merabet’s death on Facebook was a mistake within minutes but when he took it down 15 minutes later, it was too late to stop it spreading around the world."

Saudi cleric issues fatwa on snowmen

Guardian, Saudi cleric issues fatwa on snowmen "Asked on a religious website if it was permissible for fathers to build snowmen for their children after a snowstorm in the country’s north, Sheikh Mohammed Saleh al-Munajjid replied: “It is not permitted to make a statue out of snow, even by way of play and fun.”"

#FoxNewsFacts

Independent, Twitter responds to Fox News’ Muslim Birmingham claims in the most British way possible "Talk about poking a tiger. Steve Emerson, a so-called ‘terrorism expert’, got slightly more publicity than he intended after claiming on Fox News that Birmingham was “totally Muslim” and a “no-go zone” for non-Muslims."



Also see the wonderful responses in:



Huffington Post, Fox News Commentator Just Claimed Birmingham Is A Muslim-Only City #FoxNewsFacts



Express, Fox News terror expert forced to apologise after claiming Birmingham is 'totally Muslim' 

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Hezbollah Chief: Extremists harm Islam more than cartoons

AP/huffingtonpost.com, Hezbollah Chief: Extremists harm Islam more than cartoons "The leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah group says Islamic extremists have insulted Islam and the Prophet Muhammad more than those who published satirical cartoons mocking the religion."

There Are More French Muslims Working for French Security Than for Al Qaeda

Olivier Roy, huffingtonpost.com, There Are More French Muslims Working for French Security Than for Al Qaeda "Muslims are criticized for being a community, but then asked to react against terrorism as a community. This is called the double bind: be what I ask you not to be."

Parallel Killings Merge Rival Groups’ Terror Agendas in Paris

wsj.com, Parallel Killings Merge Rival Groups’ Terror Agendas in Paris

Isis video appears to show Ahmed Coulibaly on the run in Paris

Independent, Isis video appears to show Ahmed Coulibaly on the run in Paris

Behind the Scenes at Charlie Hebdo’s First Editorial Meeting Since the Attack

The Slate, Behind the Scenes at Charlie Hebdo’s First Editorial Meeting Since the Attack

Who Trained Charlie Hebdo Attackers?

Who Trained Charlie Hebdo Attackers: Terrorist Recruitment Scheme Revealed / Sputnik International "The recent terrorist attack in France represents a deeper problem rising across both Western Europe and Russia, coping with the growing number of hidden jihadist cells who see this attack as only the dawn of a new wave of international terrorism."

Saturday, January 10, 2015

This Muslim Man Saved Several Hostages During The Paris Kosher Market Siege

buzzfeed.com, This Muslim Man Saved Several Hostages During The Paris Kosher Market Siege "On social media, Bathily was being praised as a hero for his actions."

Joe Sacco: On Satire – a response to the Charlie Hebdo attacks

Guardian, Joe Sacco: On Satire – a response to the Charlie Hebdo attacks opinion

Get the Muslim iCondemn App!

muslimmatters.org, Get the Muslim iCondemn App!  "According to my calculations, we need to be denouncing things at fifty times the volume and at least twenty times the speed to meet all the demand. The problem is all that denunciation takes a lot of time and resources. We need a 21st century solution to this problem."

Cherif Kouachi

Washington Post, One of the Paris shooters spoke to a French journalist. Here’s their conversation.

#ArrestAbdulAziz

Facing the Taliban: Videos call out religious extremism in Pakistan, BBC Trending - BBC World Service "The campaign #ArrestAbdulAziz is led by the activist Jibran Nasir and asks people to post videos online calling for the arrest of the cleric and nominating their friends to follow suit. We talk to him as well as others who took part." Check out the hashtag #ArrestAbdulAziz here. This is one of the campaign posters available on social media:

 

Boko Haram attacks - update

Guardian, Boko Haram's 'deadliest massacre': 2,000 feared dead in Nigeria "Amnesty International calls the killings ‘a disturbing and bloody escalation’ and a local defence group says its fighters have given up trying to count the bodies." Widely under-reported

Friday, January 09, 2015

Abu Hamza sentenced in New York: live - Telegraph

Abu Hamza sentenced in New York: live - Telegraph

Charlie Hebdo suspects killed, ‘several hostages freed’ at Paris market

France24 - Live: Charlie Hebdo suspects killed, ‘several hostages freed’ at Paris market

Tariq Ramadan: The West, terrorism and Islam

aljazeera.com, Tariq Ramadan: The West, terrorism and Islam

Why the popularity of #killallmuslims is not all it seems

BBC News, Why the popularity of #killallmuslims is not all it seems

Saudi blogger convicted of insulting Islam publicly flogged

AP/CTV, Saudi blogger convicted of insulting Islam publicly flogged, 9 Jan 2015 "A Saudi blogger convicted of insulting Islam was brought after Friday prayers to a public square in the port city of Jiddah and flogged 50 times before hundreds of spectators, a witness to the lashing said."

'Hostages Killed' In Paris Supermarket Siege

Sky News, 'Hostages Killed' In Paris Supermarket Siege

'Hacktivist' group Anonymous says it will avenge Charlie Hebdo attacks

'Hacktivist' group Anonymous says it will avenge Charlie Hebdo attacks by shutting down jihadist websites - Telegraph

Charlie Hebdo suspect 'mentored' by Abu Hamza disciple

Charlie Hebdo suspect 'mentored' by Abu Hamza disciple - Telegraph "The security services are probing British links to the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack after it emerged one of the two suspects was mentored by an Abu Hamza lieutenant based at Finsbury Park Mosque."

Monday, January 05, 2015

Facebook and Twitter are 'allowing Islamophobia to spread by refusing to report offensive postings'

Mail Online, Facebook and Twitter are 'allowing Islamophobia to spread by refusing to report offensive postings' "Facebook and Twitter have been accused of allowing Islamophobia to flourish by refusing to remove hundreds of inflammatory posts which have been reported by anti-racism campaigners."

Sunday, January 04, 2015

ISIS Hostage Appears In New Propaganda Video From Iraq

huffingtonpost.com, ISIS Hostage Appears In New Propaganda Video From Iraq "In this installment, released on Friday, the 43-year-old Cantlie "reports" from Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, which has been under ISIS control since June. Contrary to what the western media has reported, Cantlie says in the video, Mosul is a stable place with plenty of electricity, very little crime, and a robust health care system."