Blog

This blog is now hosted at VirtuallyIslamic.com. This site now represents the archive of links relating to Gary Bunt's research on Islam, Muslims and the Internet.

Back to Basics: Virtually Islamic blog

Due to technical issues with my website, I have decided to mirror future posts here in the future. Some posts on my central site will also be made available here in due course. .This version dates back to 2003, so there is plenty to check out (with a slight gap Nov 2018-Oct 2019). Many themes previously blogged can be found on my Twitter and Facebook

AICIS Round-up

I gave a presentation, 'Inside the Fatwa Machine' in the AICIS 2019 Annual Conference, in Jakarta, 1-4 October 2019. I had the chance to meet many researchers working in related areas, some of whom I only previously knew via social media. There are more photos on my research Facebook page [search: Gary R. Bunt]

Hashtag Islam at OUP

My book 'Hashtag Islam: How Cyber Islamic Environments are Transforming Religious Authority' is now available through OUP's Oxford Index https://oxfordindex.oup.com/…/northc…/9781469643168.001.0001

Previously on 'Virtually Islamic'

Previously on 'Virtually Islamic'


‘Hashtag Islam’ new e-book edition
Internet and Muslim Women
Egyptian Female Digital Literacy
Iran Gaming Gender Inequity
Rohingya SIM
Hajj & Information Flows
Palestinian 'Honour Killing'
'The Accidental Celebrity'
Tawhidi under spotlight
Kashmir Journalism Risks
Prevent' Independent Review 

VirtuallyIslamic.com

Cyber Islamic Environments: a 2019 version of my mindmap

Cyber Islamic Environments: a 2019 version of my mindmap 

Previously on Virtually Islamic 2.0:

Previously on Virtually Islamic 2.0:

Content Control
Bangladesh Radicalisation
Islamic apps
‘Deal of the Century’(?!)
anti-Islam algorithms
AQIM Qur’an use
Fashion influencers
Indonesian WhatsApp

Observing cyber-Islamic environments since 2000

'Hashtag Islam' - Indian sub-continent version

My book 'Hashtag Islam' is now available to order in the Indian sub-continent from Pentagon Press. This is a special edition (hardback) with a different cover.

ISBN:9789386618627

It's also available via the usual bookshops, and fromAmazon

Recent headlines:

More details on these and other stories can now be found on the new Virtually Islamic blog:

OpenDemocracy.net, “I’d prefer to die in Poland”: Chechnya’s most famous YouTuber in exile faces deportation to Russia 

Said Temsamani, Eurasia Review, Morocco: Interactive Radio, TV And Social Media To Enhance True Values Of Islam – OpEd  

Hadith centred programme promoted by Moroccan King Mohammed VI.  

Jamie Prentis, The National, Russian trolls stoked UK hatred of Islam after terrorist attacks, 1 Nov 2018 

amaliah, #ProtectYoungHijabis the Hashtag Formed to Protect Over 900 Young Muslim Women From One Sexual Predator 

albawaba.com, Do Arab Governments Control Arabic-Language Twitter?

C.J. Werleman, alaraby.com, How do white Muslims experience Islamophobia? Social media linkage to this interesting article/opinion piece.
 

"I'm white and English. I've never faced racism in my life. I became a Muslim, then people would hurl abuse as I was no longer white," tweeted Christopher John George. "I never knew how bad it felt until I was on the other side… it is DISGUSTING."

"His tweet illuminates not only how Islamophobia is a virulent form of racism, but also narrates an untold story of the Muslim experience in western societies today - the story of how white converts to Islam are now considered by some racists as traitors to their race."  

University of Wales Trinity Saint David, UWTSD Academic focusses on Islam in cyberspace with new book release

"An international publication focussing on how cyber-Islamic environments are transforming religious authority has been released by a UWTSD Lampeter based academic."

New home for blog

I'm now blogging on the virtuallyislamic.com website, but will continue to place summarised posts here too. 

Hashtag Islam

Hashtag Islam - print version

I'm very pleased to have received my first printed copy of 'Hashtag Islam'. It's been great to have had the chance to work again with series editors Bruce B. Lawrence and Carl W. Ernst - alongside Executive Editor Elaine Maisner and the excellent UNC Press team. The book is out in October.

Commercial Break: Hashtag Islam - Australia and New Zealand

Hashtag Islam can be obtained through all the usual channels in Australia and New Zealand, including through Footprint Books. Their October catalogue has details and prices.

Publishers Weekly Review: Hashtag Islam

Publishers Weekly, Nonfiction Review, Hashtag Islam: How Cyber- Islamic Environments Are Transforming Religious Authority

" ... by investigating how Muslim communities are utilizing (and being transformed by) the ongoing worldwide digital revolution, this work proves to be an important addition to literature on contemporary Islam."

Temporarily off-line

I'm currently off-line and not updating this blog. I am still tweeting @garybunt. I will be updating the blog in due course.

In the meantime, my new book is published in October by the University of North Carolina Press.  It's available through all the usual channels. 

Normal service on this blog will be resumed as soon as possible.

Approaches to Digital Religious Studies

Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research (AIHR),'Approaches to Digital Religious Studies' with Prof. Gary R. Bunt (University of Wales Trinity Saint David), 16 Apr 2018 "This presentation explores the approaches towards analysing researching religions in cyberspace, based on two decades of experience in analyzing, researching and writing about Islam and Muslims on the Internet. The field is virtual, but has a real-world impact on many levels, with increasing implications for Muslims in local and global contexts. As such, it has become an important subject for academic study. Specific and innovative methodological approaches are required, and these continue to evolve in response to changing issues and technological shifts. The presentation will reflect on experience to date, and consider ways in which digital content can be integrated into academic discourse, drawing upon approaches which are multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary in nature."

Hashtag Islam: How Cyber Islamic Environments are Transforming Religious Authority

VirtuallyIslamic.com, Publication Announcement - Hashtag Islam: How Cyber Islamic Environments are Transforming Religious Authority (University of North Carolina Press)

News on my next book, including links to purchase/ordering options via Amazon.  The book comes out in October 18.

'Flaming, Trolls and Memes: Digital Dimensions of Coexistence in Cyberspace'

Here's a link to my presentation 'Flaming, Trolls and Memes: Digital Dimensions of Coexistence in Cyberspace' from the #Coexistence Conference held in Cardiff @MuslimWales which has just been released.

About this blog

I've just realised the Virtually Islamic blog is entering its fifteenth year (in current format!). Despite duplicating some of the information on Twitter @garybunt, I find it helpful to have a chronicle of online activities in this way (with other listings of related links going back to the 1990s). I've been using it as I edit my book as well, although some of the older links have evaporated. I'm planning a revamp of my web activities this year when I launch the new book - but will continue to integrate the blog into things in some manner. I hope some of you find it useful.

Book review

Reading Religion, The Study of Religious Experience Approaches and Methodologies 

Book review.  I have a chapter in this volume, which was edited by my colleague Bettina Schmidt.

Peaceful Coexistence Conference

Today I participated in the Ethical Approaches to Peaceful Co-Existence conference, organised by UWTSD, Muslim Council Wales - MCW, and the Knowledge Exchange Programme. My presentation was entitled 'Flaming, Trolls and Memes: Digital Dimensions of Co-existence in Cyberspace'.  I referenced my next book 'Hashtag Islam: How Cyber Islamic Environments are Transforming Religious Authority'.  It has been a full programme today. More information on Twitter @garybunt