Father of Isis volunteer: 'My son has betrayed Britain'

Father of Isis volunteer: 'My son has betrayed Britain' | World news | The Guardian "At the Manar centre in Glynrhondda Street, Cardiff, one of the places where the Muthana brothers worshipped, elders suggested that the men must have been radicalised via the internet.


"Trustee Barak Albayaty said: "Nasser Muthana was just like any other guy. I was shocked to see him in the video. But I am sure coming here is not the source of radicalism. We're against going to Syria for the armed struggle and have spelt this out on many occasions. The boys are affected by the internet. It's not just Cardiff, it's all over the UK.""

#AllEyesOnIsis

ISIS receive notes of support from EVERY continent after Twitter charm offensive | Mail Online "Using the hash tag #AllEyesOnIsis, extremist fighters flooded the social media site with propaganda, luring vulnerable people to join them in Iraq.



"And within minutes, their stunt - which Twitter is powerless to block or moderate - was met with chilling messages of support from countries all over the globe - from Rome to Australia, Switzerland to America, Kenya to Nepal."

ISIS vs Kuwait’s Tabtabaie: a tale of two tweets

ISIS vs Kuwait’s Tabtabaie: a tale of two tweets - Al Arabiya News
"A single tweet can get you in a lot of trouble as trolls and haters might react aggressively to your views on social media."

'British Jihadist' Video Calls For Iraq Recruits

Sky News, 'British Jihadist' Video Calls For Iraq Recruits: "A video purporting to show British jihadists urging Western Muslims to join them in Iraq has been released on social media."

How ISIS is spreading its message online

BBC News - How ISIS is spreading its message online "Alongside the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant's (ISIS) battlefield successes in northern Iraq, the group has deployed a sophisticated social media strategy that is redefining its propaganda."

New and noted - PhD dissertation

New and noted: Rebecca S. Robinson, 'Individuals, Collectives, Sisters: Vernacular Cosmopolitan Praxis Among Muslim Women in Transnational Cyberspaces' - this is a PhD dissertation from Arizona State University. It looks interesting, but I haven't read it yet. This links to the pdf of the dissertation.

Twitter account associated with Iran leader warns of ‘war in Muslim world’

alarabiya.net, Twitter account associated with Iran leader warns of ‘war in Muslim world’ "A Twitter account Iran experts believe is run by the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in comments apparently inspired by Iraq's turmoil, accused militants on Thursday of wanting to bring about a war in the Muslim world."

Selling terror: how Isis details its brutality

Roula Khalaf and Sam Jones, FT, Selling terror: how Isis details its brutality, 17 Jun 2014 also see zerohedge.com, ISIS Stunner: Terrorist Organization's Annual Reports Unveiled; Reveal Full "Investment Highlights"

'Whisper' in Iraq

alarabiya.net, Careful ‘Whisper?’ Iraqis share fears via popular app, 17 Jun 2014 "Plagued by insecurity and violence, Iraqis are increasingly taking to the anonymous app “Whisper” to share their stories as other social media giants report disruptions to their services in the country."

Terror group Isis gives travel advice

Terror group Isis gives travel advice to extremist Britons travelling to Iraq and Syria, Daily Express: refers to ask.fm and other social media

Iraqis turn to Whisper app

CNN, Iraqis turn to Whisper app during conflict - Jun. 16, 2014:
also see alarabiya.net, Careful Whisper

Iraq Orders Complete Internet Shutdown in 5 Provinces

mashable, Iraq Orders Complete Internet Shutdown in 5 Provinces:

The terrifying rise of Isis: $2bn in loot, online killings and an army on the run | World news | The Guardian

The terrifying rise of Isis: $2bn in loot, online killings and an army on the run | World news | The Guardian:



contains a section on social media use

ISIS Fighters and Their Friends Are Total Social Media Pros

ISIS Fighters and Their Friends Are Total Social Media Pros | VICE News
"As they staged their offensive on the ground, quickly conquering one town after the next, members of the al Qaeda splinter group launched an equally efficient public relations war — trumpeting their arrival on Twitter like the most social media-savvy marketing company."

Terrorists using Twitter, Facebook to spread propaganda

Terrorists using Twitter, Facebook to spread propaganda, recruit would-be jihadists | News.com.au:

"As the jihadist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) rampages through Iraq, posting graphic images on Twitter of what appear to be mass executions, Twitter is scrambling to block their posts."

Iraq Crisis: PM Vows To 'Face Terrorism'

Iraq Crisis: PM Vows To 'Face Terrorism', Sky News:

Selfie culture a new battleground for the Iranian regime

Selfie culture a new battleground for the Iranian regime | World news | theguardian.com:

Iraq militants walk fine line in seized areas

Iraq militants walk fine line in seized areas - The Washington Post: "In the week since it captured Iraq’s second-largest city, Mosul, a Muslim extremist group has tried to win over residents and has stopped short of widely enforcing its strict brand of Islamic law, residents say. Churches remain unharmed and street cleaners are back at work. Getting around is easier now that much-despised blast walls and security checkpoints are gone."

Social media battle augments Iraq bloodshed

Social media battle augments Iraq bloodshed - CNN.com "CNN's Nick Paton-Walsh in Turkey interviewed a defector from ISIS who said he used to recruit Westerners for the cause through direct messages on Twitter."

ISIS: Iraq KILLS the INTERNET

ISIS: Iraq KILLS the INTERNET: VPNs, social media and chat apps blocked by government, The Register:

"Iraq has widened its internet ban to include virtual private networks and mobile data in a bid to halt the progress of brutal offensives in the country led by the extremist militant group calling itself the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis)."

ISIL Twitter terror

ISIL Twitter terror: gruesome Iraq photos and candid selfies of jihadist group members, smh.com.au:

Iraq blocks Facebook

alarabiya.net, Facebook is latest casualty in Iraq’s battle with ISIS "The Iraqi government blocked Facebook on Friday, citing security concerns after the militant group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and other local armed groups seized large parts of the country, Al Arabiya's correspondent in Baghdad reported."

Closing shops during prayer

alarabiya.net, Closing shops during prayers sparks debate among Saudi Twitter users also see the discussion with Ahmed al-Ghamdi here

Sunnis and Shias: What's the story?

BBC, Sunnis and Shias: What's the story? This looks like a useful guide.

Mosul updates

Independent, Iraq crisis: Islamist militants close in on Baghdad after capturing two towns north of capital

Niqash, inside mosul: why iraqis are celebrating islamic extremists’ takeover of their city "This week, Mosul’s streets were filled with celebrating locals. And the Internet was alive with videos of Mosul people jeering the Iraqi army as it left and congratulating the extremists who took their place. That is even though most of them know about the beheadings and amputations and other cruelties that come with the hardline Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. So why was everyone so happy? And how long can ISIS’ honeymoon in Mosul last?"

alarabiya.net, With ISIS advancements, nearby Jordan must be concerned, analysts say
 
 BBC 5 Live scroll through: around 5.15 on 12.6.14, there was a good interview with a Mosul resident.

Foreign Policy, The Beginning of a Caliphate  

alarabiya.net, Video shows Saudis fighting alongside ISIS in Iraq

Egypt Wants Greater Monitoring of Bloggers, Social Media

VOA, Egypt Wants Greater Monitoring of Bloggers, Social Media "Newly leaked documents show the Egyptian government now wants to greatly expand its monitoring of Egyptians’ use of social media, hauling in massive amounts of data on just about everyone online in Egypt."

Mosul and social media

Guardian, Isis insurgents seize control of Iraqi city of Mosul, "Islamist extremists have seized control of much of Iraq's second biggest city, Mosul, and the surrounding province, freeing more than 1,000 prisoners, sending troops and residents fleeing and crippling Baghdad's efforts to quell a fast-spreading insurgency."

Good coverage from Dan Murphy, CSM, Why Mosul's fall is a signature moment in Iraq (+video)

Also see BBC News, Battle for Mosul: Critical test ahead for Iraq and Zee News, 'Thank God for Twitter' - militants tweet after taking Iraq's Mosul " However instead of thanking the Twitter's founders like Jack Dorsey and Noah Glass, the jihadists are thanking the Almighty for the social networking site that keeps them updated and gives them a good platform to advertise their victories, like the takeover of Mosul in Iraq recently."

AP/HP, Iraqi Militants Seize Government Headquarters In Mosul (VIDEO)

IBT, The Ginger Jihadist of Mosul: Omar al-Shishani the Chechen 'General' "Following the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Shams' (Isis) capture of Mosul, which caused 500,000 Iraqis to flee the city and propelled the group to the richest terror force in the world status, pictures of Omar al-Shishani, an Isis Emir has emerged on social media inspecting stolen US-supplied humvees."

Egyptian ‘First Kiss’ video proves a shocker

alarabiya.net, Egyptian ‘First Kiss’ video proves a shocker and here it is: [it's been out a while]

"The number of global jihadis is increasing, but Americans aren't necessarily less safe"

PRI, The number of global jihadis is increasing, but Americans aren't necessarily less safe, 4 Jun 2014

UAE social media

Douglas A. Wissing, Genie Uncorked: Social Media in the UAE, 5 Jun 2014 "Like a capricious genie, social media is vexing United Arab Emirate leaders eager to uncork its powers. With the Arab world's highest social networks penetration rates, the formerly quiescent Gulf monarchies are now abuzz with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+ and other social media. But the free-spirited social media genie is creating a unique tension in the 21st-century Arab autocracies."

al-Shabaab and technology

BBC News, How Somalia’s al-Shabab militants hone their image "A recent al-Shabab directive that all its members change their mobile phone numbers shows how tech-savvy the al-Qaeda-linked Somali Islamist group remains and how their communications strategy is key to their survival."

Hezbollah's Tech-Savvy, Platform-Agnostic Guerrilla Marketing Campaign

businessweek.com, Hezbollah's Tech-Savvy, Platform-Agnostic Guerrilla Marketing Campaign, 5 Jun 2014 "There’s a setting in Special Force 2 that lets you kill as many Israeli soldiers as you want, no matter how many times you get blown up. This would be called “God mode” in a typical first-person shooter video game. But the developers behind Special Force 2 belong to Hezbollah, “the party of God” in Arabic, and follow the Islamic tenet that there is no god except God. So the setting is named shahid—martyr—mode."

Facebook blocks rock band page at Pakistan govt request

PM News Nigeria, Facebook blocks rock band page at Pakistan govt request "Facebook has blocked the popular page of a liberal rock band in Pakistan at the request of the government, angering activists campaigning against censorship in the Islamic country."

Dutch “Halal” Sex Shop Expands

onislam.net, Dutch “Halal” Sex Shop Expands "Widely dubbed in the media as the world’s first “halal” sex shop, a Dutch online shop that allegedly promotes Muslims “sexual well-being” has announced an alliance with Europe’s largest erotic retailer to tap into the 1.8 billion Muslim market."

Modern Muslimahs

Mail & Guardian, Modern Muslimahs: A step in Mr Right's direction "Muslim women today have social networking, matrimonial sites, samoosa runs and matchmakers to help find the right husband. But it's still not easy."

Young Iranians 'claustrophobic' as culture is forced online ...

Young Iranians 'claustrophobic' as culture is forced online but accessed in private, theguardian.com "The absence of public space and the wide availability of digital media means that there is no middle ground between these two worlds. Both at home and at school, young people feel isolated in their virtual microcosms and trapped in their contrasting physical reality. Their parents, usually oblivious to the purposes of sites like Instagram, worry about what their children do outside the home. But in a closed society like Iran's, the virtual world can be just as psychologically damaging as hard drugs." Opinion

Sex in Tunisia & the Arab World

Sex in Tunisia & the Arab World: Interview with Shereen El Feki | Tunisia Live: "You now see the emergence of really good websites starting to give reliable information in Arabic. One of them is called Love Matters, Hob Thaqafa, it was just launched in March. It’s an initiative from Radio Netherlands, but the team are all Arab and much of it is based in Cairo, and it’s basically just providing information on sex in a very respectable, scientific, attractive way."  The internet is playing a significant role in relation to issues discussed in this interview.

Activists in Egypt say online monitoring is scare tactic

Activists in Egypt say online monitoring is scare tactic - News - Aswat Masriya "The new system will track down certain words such as “bombs”, “explosives,” or “terrorism” to maintain the country’s national security, a security source told Aswat Masriya. "

‘Bomb-Making for Beginners’: Inside al Al-Qaeda E-Learning Course

‘Bomb-Making for Beginners’: Inside al Al-Qaeda E-Learning Course | Anne Stenersen | Perspectives on Terrorism "This study explores how terrorists utilize the Internet to learn bomb-making skills. Unlike previous studies, it does not focus on assessing the quality of online bomb recipes. Rather, it discusses the efforts being made by on-line jihadists to help others learn by providing so-called “e-learning courses.” As of today, such courses have few active participants yet they tend to attract large interest – indicating that there is a demand among Al-Qaeda’s online sympathizers for developing this concept further."

New and Noted: Jihadi Culture on the World Wide Web

Anne Stenersen, e-ir, Review – Gilbert Ramsay, Jihadi Culture on the World Wide Web, New York: Bloomsbury, 2013



Book information here

Saudi cleric declares online chatrooms are evil

Saudi cleric declares online chatrooms are evil - aysor.am   "Sheikh Abdullah al-Mutlaq, a prominent member of the Saudi Committee of Senior Scholars, has said the online conversations between different genders are prohibited and would eventually lead to committing a sin."

Cyber warfare

Yaakov Lappin, Jerusalem Post, Israel, Iran wage cyber warfare in the battlefield of the future " What may begin as an enemy intelligence-gathering mission could later turn into a virus that disrupts military operations." Analysis and speculation

Iran's Dubious Digital Revolution

usnews.com, Iran's Dubious Digital Revolution "Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has taken steps to reach the country's powerful youth constituency since his election in June 2013, using Twitter and talking about the importance of the Internet in an effort to connect. The country has a young, tech-savvy population, more than half of which is under the age of 30, making it an important voice in determining the country's future."

'Facebook has no comment for the eight Iranians sentenced to long prison terms for posting messages'

venturebeat.com, Facebook has no comment for the eight Iranians sentenced to long prison terms for posting messages, "This week, eight Iranian students and adults were slapped with jail sentences ranging from seven to twenty years in prison for posting Facebook messages deemed inflammatory by the Islamic government. Their fate elicited a “no comment” Thursday from the Menlo Park-based company."

Little Chechnya on the Steppes

BBC Radio 4, Little Chechnya on the Steppes, "Award-winning travel writer Oliver Bullough journeys into the frozen heart of Central Asia to meet the 'White Hats'. This exiled community of Chechens survived everything that Stalin threw at them and now live an isolated and ascetic life on the steppes of Kazakhstan."

Social Networking in Cyber Spaces: European Muslim's Participation in (New) Media

KU Leuven - Call for Papers: Social Networking in Cyber Spaces: European Muslim's Participation in (New) Media, 27-28 November 2014. "The increasing growth of the Internet is reshaping Islamic communities worldwide. Non-conventional media and social networks such as Facebook and Twitter are becoming more popular among the Muslim youth as among all parts of the society. The new channels of information and news attract new Muslim publics in Europe. The profile of the people using these networks range from college students to Islamic intellectual authorities. Such an easy and speedy way of connecting to millions of people across the globe also attracts the attention of social movements, which utilize these networks to spread their message to a wider public. Many Muslim networks and social movements, political leaders, Islamic institutions and authorities use these new media spaces to address wider Muslim and also non-Muslim communities, it is not uncommon that they also address and reach certain so-called radical groups."

Sounds interesting (+familiar territory for several readers of these pages)

Iranian hackers use Facebook to spy on U.S.

Iranian hackers use Facebook to spy on U.S. - Al Arabiya News:

"In an unprecedented, three-year cyber espionage campaign, Iranian hackers created false social networking accounts and a fake news website to spy on military and political leaders in the United States, Israel and other countries, a cyber-intelligence firm said on Thursday."

Allegations re ballot stuffing (in Egypt)

dailynewsegypt.com, PEC denies authenticity of video showing ballot stuffing

Egypt: Media presents election as forgone conclusion

indexoncensorship.org, Egypt: Media presents election as forgone conclusion

Why the Internet Is Not Increasing Terrorism

Taylor & Francis Online :: Why the Internet Is Not Increasing Terrorism - Security Studies - Volume 23, Issue 2  "Policymakers and scholars fear that the Internet has increased the ability of transnational terrorists, like al Qaeda, to attack targets in the West, even in the face of increased policing and military efforts. Although access to the Internet has increased across the globe, there has been no corresponding increase in completed transnational terrorist attacks. This analysis examines the causal logics—which have led to the conventional wisdom—and demonstrates both theoretically and empirically that the Internet is not a force multiplier for transnational terrorist organizations. Far from being at a disadvantage on the Internet, state security organs actually gain at least as much utility from the Internet as terrorist groups do, meaning that at worst the Internet leaves the state in the same position vis-à-vis terrorist campaigns as it was prior to the Internet." Have yet to read this.

Why are Iranian men wearing the hijab?

alarabiya.net, Why are Iranian men wearing the hijab? "Earlier this month, Iranian women flooded Facebook with pictures of themselves with their hair uncovered to spark a debate the freedom to choose whether or not to wear the hijab."

Rouhani on the web

Mehrdad Balali, IOL SciTech, Time to embrace internet, Iran leader says, 27 May 2014 "Iran should embrace the Internet rather than see it as a threat, President Hassan Rouhani has said, in remarks that challenge hardliners who have stepped up measures to censor the Web."

'Terrorists Exploit Social Networks'

Magharebia, Imrane Binoual, eurasiareview.com, Terrorists Exploit Social Networks "Videos, audio recordings, messages and speeches from terrorist organisations blanket YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and blogs. Maghreb extremists have embraced the virtual arena, using online networks to attract recruits and spread propaganda."

Papal visit

Guardian, Pope Francis makes unofficial stop at Israeli terrorism memorial, 26 May 2014

BBC News, Pope prays at Israel's West Bank separation barrier

'Fajer Al Bashaer' app

vocativ.com, Now Available in the Android Store: An App for Terrorists "The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS)—a jihadi group that even Al Qaeda’s leadership severed ties with for being too extreme—has blazed new trails in cyberspace. Its app, paradoxically called Fajer Al Bashaer (Dawn of Good Omens), delivers news and links to articles about ISIS “successes” in Syria, where the group is based. The app’s developers say their goal is to “assist the victory of the Islamic state by conveying its messages to Muslims everywhere.”"

'Counter-Terrorism: The Electronic Jihad'

Strategy Page, Counter-Terrorism: The Electronic Jihad "In April 2014 a Moslem man (Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi) from Nigeria pled guilty in an American court to charges that he had participated in an al Qaeda operation in Yemen to promote Islamic terrorism via the Internet. Babafemi faces up to 30 years in jail for going to Yemen in 2010 and joining al Qaeda. He later returned to Nigeria and was arrested there and extradited to the United States in 2013. He is one of an increasing number of Islamic terrorist sympathizers who stay out of the battleground areas and provide support via the Internet. Terrorist leaders now recognize this sort of support is important for jihad (struggle) and it is encouraged."

Concerns over online extremism

Belfast Telegraph, Concerns over online extremism, 21 May 2014 " Fears have been raised about online extremism a year after the death of soldier Lee Rigby, as deadly jihadist material remains widely available online."

Central Asia Digital Islam Project

Registan, The Central Asia Digital Islam Project: How the Internet and Social Media are Reshaping the Islamic Marketplace in Central Asia "Advances in communications technology and large-scale migration are rapidly eroding these obstacles, however, allowing Central Asians to increasingly participate in trans-national Islamic discourses through digital media."

Aleppo's most wanted man (and video impact)

Guardian, Aleppo's most wanted man - the rebel leader behind tunnel bombs "The giant plumes of dirt and rubble that ballooned several hundred metres skyward as the hotel crumbled, killing 30-50 Syrian troops, have fast become one of the most jaw-dropping images of Syria's civil war. In three years of aerial blitzes, scud missiles, chemical attacks and suicide bombs, little else had been captured so spectacularly and in real time (video).

"That was one of the best things about the operation," said Assad. "The effect on morale was immediate. Ever since, the men have wanted to fight more than before. We have called this "Operation Aleppo Earthquake".

UAE privacy laws

The National, Be aware of UAE privacy laws when posting Facebook content, TRA warns, 20 May 2014 "Posting content about other people on Facebook without their consent could be breaking the law, regulators warn."

#Happy Iranians arrested

BBC, Iranian Pharrell fans arrested for Happy tribute video "A group of Iranian fans who created a tribute to Pharrell Williams' hit song Happy have been arrested."

Abu Hamza guilty

Guardian, Abu Hamza found guilty of 11 terrorism charges, 20 May 2014 "Hamza was accused of being a terrorist of global reach, and was charged with providing material support to terrorist organizations by enabling hostage-takers in the Yemen kidnapping to speak on a satellite phone, by sending men to establish an al-Qaida training camp in Bly, Oregon, and by sending at least one man to training camps in Afghanistan."

KSA hackers

Saudi Gazette, alarabiya.net, Saudi interior ministry plans to recruit hackers, 14 May 2014 "The National Information Center of the Saudi Ministry of Interior is planning to employ native hackers in its efforts to define holes in the electronic networks in the Kingdom."

Shaykh Nazım al-Haqqani dies

Hurriyet Daily News, Islamic scholar Shaykh Nazım dies at the age of 92, 7 May 2014 "Influential Turkish Cypriot Islamic scholar Shaykh Nazım al-Haqqani died May 7 after being hospitalized for lung and kidney failure last month."

Some of the reactions online are shown below:

Also see SufiLive

KSA, English language and the net

Arab News, Winds of change: English teaching in Saudi Arabia, 9 May 2014 "For several years now, English has been touted to be an important lingua franca in many countries where it is widely used as a means of communication among various ethnic groups and people of different backgrounds. The advent of the Internet has only reinforced its eminence where almost 30 percent of the data is in English. In addition, most of the world’s music is in English (although this is debatable) while job opportunities are certainly better in non-English speaking countries with good salaries and perks."

Kyrgyzstan seeks to stem recruitment for Syrian war

Central Asia Online, Kyrgyzstan seeks to stem recruitment for Syrian war "While the Kyrgyz government attempts to curtail the exodus of young men joining the war in Syria have yielded some effect, social network users are still vulnerable to external influence online."

Boko Haram and online activities

CBS News, Nigeria schoolgirl kidnapping boosts Boko Haram's online presence, for better or worse "While the reaction has been a mix of support and condemnation of the group's kidnapping of almost 300 teenage girls from their school in the northern Borno province, the overall outpouring of interest seems to have elevated the group to a more equal footing with other al Qaeda affiliates -- at least on the vital modern battlefield of the Internet."

'Jihadi Converts' - radio programme

Radio 4, The Report, 'Jihadi Converts' "Converts to Islam are far more likely to be involved in terrorist incidents than those who were born into Muslim families: converts account for around a quarter of terrorist convictions in Britain since 9/11 yet they represent only 2-3% of the UK's Muslim population."

Raif Badawi case

National Turk, Medieval Justice in Saudi Arabia: Ten years imprisonment and 1,000 lashes for blogger Raif Badawi, 8 May 2014 "Now, an appeals court in the port city of Jeddah has tightened the punishment again. The judge sentenced the blogger on Wednesday to ten years in prison and 1,000 lashes. In addition, he shall pay a fine in the amount from the equivalent of just under 200,000 euros."

Abu Hamza trial

Telegraph, Abu Hamza trial: hate preacher says British wife persuaded him to turn to Islam "It was his first wife, an Englishwoman, who persuaded him to start to study Islam with her because she became interested in the religion, he explained. “She was persistent,” he said. “She pushed too hard.”"

Pakistan: YouTube Ban Resolution

Tribune, YouTube Ban Resolution Unanimously Passed in National Assembly "Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Shazia Mari presented the resolution in the session of the National Assembly today."

WhatsApp faces ban in Iran over 'American Zionist' Zuckerberg

Techie News, WhatsApp faces ban in Iran over 'American Zionist' Zuckerberg "Abdolsamad Khorramabadi, head of the country’s Committee on Internet Crimes, announced the ban, saying that “the reason for this is the adoption of WhatsApp by the Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who is an American Zionist.”"

Disillusioned ‘jihadi’ gets death threats for exposing recruiters

arabnews.com, Disillusioned ‘jihadi’ gets death threats for exposing recruiters "Blurring the line between reality and fiction, a former member of a terrorist group has made a movie slamming those in the Kingdom who recruit young Saudis to fight abroad." I have yet to see the film (which is linked into this report).

Allegations: "Islamic Cleric From Michigan Is a Top Online Figure for Jihadists in Syria"

The Blaze, Islamic Cleric From Michigan Is a Top Online Figure for Jihadists in Syria "Ahmad Jibril, who was released from prison in 2012 after serving time for fraud, began his online sermons just as Al Qaeda extremists began flooding into the civil war in Syria." Allegations.

British Fighters Filmed In Syria 'War Crime'

Sky News, British Fighters Filmed In Syria 'War Crime' "They [ICSR] believe the man that posted the video is part of a group of British fighters, known as Rayat al Tawheed, an affiliate of the Sunni jihadi movement ISIS, which controls large swathes of northern Syria."

Global terrorism rose 43% in 2013 despite al-Qaida splintering

Global terrorism rose 43% in 2013 despite al-Qaida splintering, US reports | World news | theguardian.com:

The latest challenge of ‘The 99’ superheroes is tackling a fatwa

The latest challenge of ‘The 99’ superheroes is tackling a fatwa | The National "It began as a suspicious relationship. I did not expect approval to begin with, and the suspicion of the Saudi authorities over the (to them) subversive nature of the content meant we were at loggerheads. It turned out that the solution was simple. I had to first get approval from a religious authority for my superheroes to fly in the Kingdom."

Crossing red-signals is ‘haram,’ says Saudi grand mufti

Crossing red-signals is ‘haram,’ says Saudi grand mufti - Al Arabiya News

Palestinian activist given house arrest for a Facebook status

Palestinian activist given house arrest for a Facebook status | +972 Magazine "In the latest case of Israeli police detaining Palestinian activists for social media activity, a Lod man is placed under house arrest and has equipment confiscated for openly opposing the enlistment of Christian Arabs on his Facebook page."

‘Wife rape’ fatwa sparks row in Egypt

‘Wife rape’ fatwa sparks row in Egypt - Al Arabiya News: "Burhami published his fatwas on the website Anasalafy.com, which is associated with his Salafist Call party. He added that allowing one’s wife to be raped is like getting mugged for money."

Iran red faced as woman parades in underwear

Iran red faced as woman parades in underwear - Al Arabiya News: "The jaw-dropping behavior has allegedly “infuriated” the Karaj natives which includes two million conservative citizens, after the report went viral on social media."

German rapper-turned-jihadist reported dead in Syria

German rapper-turned-jihadist reported dead in Syria - Al Arabiya News "Denis Mamadou Cuspert, who rapped under the name Deso Dogg but took on the name Abu Talha al-Almani in Syria, was reported to have been killed in a suicide attack Sunday in an eastern province."

Tazkiyah in the Age of Psychotherapy

Tazkiyah in the Age of Psychotherapy - Faith & the Sciences - Health & Science - OnIslam.net: Interview with AbdelRahman Mussa, the founder of iPersonal Enrichment newsletter and the Whims-I-Kill Tazkiyah course. Interesting article by Klaudia Khan. Includes the question "How does the modern communication technology affect the experience of tazkiyah?"

The Unseen Shackles of Muslim Social Media Activism

The Unseen Shackles of Muslim Social Media Activism | MuslimMatters.org:

"Fast forward to now. We're in the social media age, but in reality it's just a new iteration of this interconnected information age. MSN, AOL, Napster, and most of those message boards are now gone. They've been replaced by Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and WhatsApp groups. In another 10-15 years (if not sooner), we'll probably see another iteration of these tools being replaced by something else. What has not changed though, is the approach to the religion, particularly as it relates to the hot button issue of the day." I was discussing similar themes in my lecture yesterday.

Lecture on #Islam, Social Media and the Cloud

KU Leuven Gülen Chair for Intercultural Studies (GCIS) | Excellence in Research on Interculturalism Relevant Contribution to Society I'm writing this as I return back to Wales after my Leuven lecture - around (selected) cyber Islamic environments in 80 minutes. Talked about trends, social media, religious authority, and evolution of sites. So, ended on a positive note with 'Happy' (that's the British Muslim version). Pharrell Williams probably never thought he'd end up in an Islamic Studies lecture. There is, apparently, an Antwerp version of this phenomenon. It was nice to meet staff/students in Leuven. Some good questions too.

In Washington, Muslims gather to get ‘Happy’ for the camera

In Washington, Muslims gather to get ‘Happy’ for the camera - The Washington Post initiative by the Muslim Public Affairs Council, inspired by the UK version

To be a ‘Happy British Muslim’ or not – that is the question

To be a ‘Happy British Muslim’ or not – that is the question - Al Arabiya News "It is important to be able to deconstruct social phenomena against a wider political context; otherwise, critical lessons can be lost, even when intentions are good. Nevertheless, there is no evidence to show shadowy forces supported this video in order to mislead the public. Why such a connection ought to be assumed, is perhaps an argument that needs to be made, as opposed to being taken for granted. Some reactions did seem to be intensely curious about who the makers of the video were. They insinuated connections to right wing anti-Muslim groups, set on some sort of “assimilationist” agenda, who wanted to show non-Muslims some sort of “sanitized” version of the Muslim community – but again, there does not seem to be any evidence for that kind of assertion." Comment from H.A. Hellyer.

'Sinful': Video of British Muslims dancing to Pharrell Williams's hit Happy comes under attack

'Sinful': Video of British Muslims dancing to Pharrell Williams's hit Happy comes under attack - Features - Music - The Independent:

Happy British Muslims

I'm posting on this retrospectively, as I have been travelling, and this started trending while I was away.  Happy British Muslims: the video that made me dance for joy | Music | The Guardian 

Pharrell - Happy British Muslims! #HAPPYDAY - YouTube

Pharrell - Happy British Muslims! #HAPPYDAY - YouTube:

"



'via Blog this'

A Woman Blogger’s Scoop Helped Save Tunisia From Islamists

A Woman Blogger’s Scoop Helped Save Tunisia From Islamists - The Daily Beast "The most famous investigative reporter in Tunisia is a 32-year-old blogger named Olfa Riahi. She broke the country’s biggest post-revolutionary news story—known as Sheratongate –and helped to save the country’s liberal revolution from the Islamists. When Tunisian Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa met with President Barack Obama on Friday he was promised $500 million in loan guarantees and heard America’s enduring commitment to Tunisia’s democratic transition. But without Riahi, that transition might have come to a dead end."

Leftward Shift by Conservative Cleric Leaves Saudis Perplexed

Leftward Shift by Conservative Cleric Leaves Saudis Perplexed - NYTimes.com "Mr. Awda had something akin to a conversion moment during the Arab uprisings of 2011, and since then has become a passionate promoter of democracy and civic tolerance. He has more than 4.5 million followers on Twitter and several million on his regular YouTube broadcasts, making him a significant thorn in the side of the Saudi monarchy. He can be dangerously blunt, at least by Saudi standards, and the government has made its displeasure clear, barring him from print media, television and foreign travel." Salman al-Oadah is discussed in this article.

Saudi Arabia: 'ID cards revolution' inflames YouTube against regime

middleeastmonitor.com, Saudi Arabia: 'ID cards revolution' inflames YouTube against regime "Under the emblem of "the ID cards revolution" the Saudi youth protest movement has shifted from twitter to YouTube. A group of Saudi young men have begun recording individual video clips separately to convey messages to the king complaining living hardships, criticising the performance of the authority and denouncing corruption."

British woman Roya Nobakht could be executed in Iran after insulting Islam on Facebook

Independent, British woman Roya Nobakht could be executed in Iran after insulting Islam on Facebook "A British woman has been locked up in Iran for five months after posting derogatory comments about the country's government on Facebook and fears she will be executed, her husband has said."

The Islamic Sex Cult Supporting Turkey’s Prime Minister

balkanist.net, The Islamic Sex Cult Supporting Turkey’s Prime Minister "Followers of Harun Yahya wear drag make-up and practice a “sexed-up, Disney version of Islam” that helps promote conservative Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s vision of a modern, Muslim Turkey. Step inside this surreal world where religious piety meets psychedelic softcore porn, led by the world’s foremost Islamic creationist."

Syria war: British Muslims on the front line

Darshna Soni, Channel 4 News, Syria war: British Muslims on the front line "Channel 4 News speaks to a couple from Essex who say they have left their old lives behind to become charity workers on the front line in Syria's civil war." This was an outstanding report.

Why Google Maps gets Africa wrong

Why Google Maps gets Africa wrong | World news | theguardian.com "To return to Jonathan Swift, our 21st century cyber-cartographers may not be filling in the gaps with "savage pictures" anymore, but that may be because from 10,000 miles and a universe away, these gaps simply don't exist."

Cleric Omar Bakri 'on the run' in Lebanon

BBC News - Cleric Omar Bakri 'on the run' in Lebanon: "The Sunni Muslim cleric is among 200 individuals wanted in connection with their alleged role in clashes that have left 30 people dead in recent weeks."

Mapping Digital Media: Indonesia

New Report: Mapping Digital Media: Indonesia | Digital Islam "The Open Society Foundations released its report Mapping Digital Media: Indonesia written by Kuskridho Ambardi, Gilang Parahita, Lisa Lindawati, Adam Sukarno & Nella Aprilia. "The Mapping Digital Media project examines the global opportunities and risks created by the transition from traditional to digital media. Covering 60 countries, the project examines how these changes affect the core democratic service that any media system should provide: news about political, economic, and social affairs."" I look forward to reading this

Britain orders probe into Muslim Brotherhood

Britain orders probe into Muslim Brotherhood - Al Arabiya News "
"A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "The Prime Minister has commissioned an internal government review into the philosophy and activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and the government's policy towards the organization.""