Iranian Blogging
NYT, Iranian Blogosphere Tests Government’s Limits, 6 Apr 08, "Troll through the Iranian blogosphere and you can find all manner of unexpectedly harsh critiques denouncing the government of the Islamic Republic, from reformists who revile it as well as conservatives who support it."
Discussion based on Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School, John Kelly, Bruce Etling, Internet and Democracy, Mapping Iran’s Online Public: Politics and Culture in the Persian Blogosphere, April 05, 2008 [pdf]
There is also a related map of the Iranian blogosphere, showing various clusters of interests.
Summary: "This case study is part of a series produced by the Internet and Democracy project. The initial studies include three of the most frequently cited examples of the Internet’s influence on democracy. The first case looks at the user-generated news site, OhmyNews, and its impact on the 2002 Presidential elections in South Korea. The second documents nontraditional media and the use of cell phone technologies for information sharing and organization of protesters during Ukraine’s Orange Revolution. This third case analyzes the composition of the Iranian blogosphere and its possible impact on political and democratic processes. The objectives of these studies are to write a narrative description of the events and the technology used in each case, to draw initial conclusions about the actual impact of technology on democratic events and processes, and to identify questions for further research."
I haven't read this yet. It will be interesting to read this contribution to studies about blogging in Iran, especially in conjunction with Annabelle Sreberny and Gholam Khiabany, Becoming Intellectual: The Blogestan and Public Political Space in the Islamic Republic, British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, Volume 34 Issue 3 2007, 267 – 286. I understand that Sreberny and Khiabany also have a book scheduled for 2009, Blogistan: The Internet and Politics in Iran, IB Tauris (details via Amazon.co.uk).
Blogging in Iranian contexts is also discussed in my next book, currently in an advanced stage of editing (check this blog for updates on that).
Monday, April 07, 2008
aQIM
AKI, Terrorism: Last days of suicide bomber revealed by ex-al-Qaeda members, 4 Apr 08 "Former members of the Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb have revealed the details of the last days of a suicide bomber in a report published in the Algerian newspaper Ech-Chourouk." Refers to video production.
AKI, Terrorism: Last days of suicide bomber revealed by ex-al-Qaeda members, 4 Apr 08 "Former members of the Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb have revealed the details of the last days of a suicide bomber in a report published in the Algerian newspaper Ech-Chourouk." Refers to video production.
.arabia
gulfnews.com, Domain names for .arabia, 5 Apr 08 "Dubai Internet users in the Middle East may be able to petition to have domains names that end regionally specific, such as .arab, by the end of the year. If things go according to plan, those domain names may even be in Arabic."
There will no doubt be some competition here for key names - it may resemble the recent regional number plates bidding wars (The Indian, Number plate auctioned for $14.2 million in UAE, 17 Feb 08).
gulfnews.com, Domain names for .arabia, 5 Apr 08 "Dubai Internet users in the Middle East may be able to petition to have domains names that end regionally specific, such as .arab, by the end of the year. If things go according to plan, those domain names may even be in Arabic."
There will no doubt be some competition here for key names - it may resemble the recent regional number plates bidding wars (The Indian, Number plate auctioned for $14.2 million in UAE, 17 Feb 08).
Pakistan Protests
AFP, Thousands of Pakistanis protest against anti-Islam film, cartoons, 7 Apr 08, "Party leader Munawar Hussain said tens of thousands participated Sunday to vent their anger against the Internet release of a 15-minute film last month by far-right Dutch MP Geert Wilders."
This was a Jamaat-e-Islami organised event, but doesn't seem to have been reported on their website yet (expect update to follow).
AFP, Thousands of Pakistanis protest against anti-Islam film, cartoons, 7 Apr 08, "Party leader Munawar Hussain said tens of thousands participated Sunday to vent their anger against the Internet release of a 15-minute film last month by far-right Dutch MP Geert Wilders."
This was a Jamaat-e-Islami organised event, but doesn't seem to have been reported on their website yet (expect update to follow).
Friday, April 04, 2008
Transatlantic bombing plot
BBC News, 'Plotters made martyrdom videos', 4 Apr 08 "Members of a group accused of plotting to blow up passenger planes mid-air as they crossed the Atlantic made Islamic martyrdom videos, a court has heard.
"Six of the eight men recorded videos in which one warns of "martyrdom operations" that would "rain down" on non-believers, jurors were told."
Brief transcripts are here: BBC News, 'Suicide videos': What they said, 4 Apr 08
There are, inevitably, some IT references to the reports, including alleged targetting of ISPs, and use of materials downloaded onto a memory stick. The trial continues.
BBC News, 'Plotters made martyrdom videos', 4 Apr 08 "Members of a group accused of plotting to blow up passenger planes mid-air as they crossed the Atlantic made Islamic martyrdom videos, a court has heard.
"Six of the eight men recorded videos in which one warns of "martyrdom operations" that would "rain down" on non-believers, jurors were told."
Brief transcripts are here: BBC News, 'Suicide videos': What they said, 4 Apr 08
There are, inevitably, some IT references to the reports, including alleged targetting of ISPs, and use of materials downloaded onto a memory stick. The trial continues.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Jihad Against Drugs
Islam Online, Jihad Against Drugs, 2 Apr 08 "Ever since he declared jihad against drugs last month, Egyptian preacher Amr Khaled's call has been resonating across Arab countries with addicts reaching out for help."
Details: AmrKhaled.net
Hussein al-Ahmad
AKI, Terrorism: Ex pop star to feature in new al-Qaeda video, 2 Apr 08, "A new al-Qaeda video will be released in three months featuring Hussein al-Ahmad, the former Kuwaiti pop singer who left for Afghanistan a few weeks ago in order to join al-Qaeda fighters in the country.
"Al-Ahmad's friend, Miftaf Lughzi confirmed this in an interview with the Arabic satellite television channel Al Jazeera."
AKI, Terrorism: Ex pop star to feature in new al-Qaeda video, 2 Apr 08, "A new al-Qaeda video will be released in three months featuring Hussein al-Ahmad, the former Kuwaiti pop singer who left for Afghanistan a few weeks ago in order to join al-Qaeda fighters in the country.
"Al-Ahmad's friend, Miftaf Lughzi confirmed this in an interview with the Arabic satellite television channel Al Jazeera."
Toledo Trial Continues
toledoblade.com, The Trainer' begins terror trial testimony, U.S. informant describes making contacts, 3 Apr 08 internet thread to this (blogged yesterday)
toledoblade.com, The Trainer' begins terror trial testimony, U.S. informant describes making contacts, 3 Apr 08 internet thread to this (blogged yesterday)
Ayman al-Zawahiri Q&A
As promised, responses have appeared to the various questions placed online. It took a little longer than anticipated, and further installments are due (given the numerous questions that were sent in):
Malaysia Sun, Top al-Qaeda official answers Internet questions, 2 Apr 2008 "In a lengthy audio response to 900 questions submitted to the movement on extremist Web sites, Zawahri made the response that al-Qaeda had not killed any innocents: “not in Baghdad nor in Morocco, nor in Algeria, nor anywhere else.""
AKI, Terrorism: Al-Zawahiri says al-Qaeda does not kill innocent people, 3 Apr 08 "Reports say some 900 questions were posted to al-Qaeda through the websites linked to the group.
""I would like to thank all of those who responded to the open debate with me by our production arm, Al-Sahab, and in particular those who operate within the media Jihad," al-Zawahiri said in the message.
"The al-Qaeda leader apologised for taking so long to respond to the questions that had been posted to the group by al-Qaeda supporters and those curious about the terror network."
Reuters, Zawahri says bin Laden in good health, 3 Apr 08
"Many of the questions, compiled since December, were sharply critical of al Qaeda and its practices, while others sought advice for joining jihad. Zawahri said he will answer more of the questions in a second statement and noted that the delay in response was partly due to security reasons."
A detailed analysis is provided by Laura Mansfield, together with a transcript (as a PDF): Mansfield Report, Zawahiri answers questions in part one of Town Hall: Zawahiri "Open Meeting" brings more questions than answers, 2 April 2008
Of course, the audio file is available through the usual channels. For those unwilling to venture in that direction, Internet Archive currently has an MP3 copy. Archive.org, First Part of Responses by Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri to Open Meeting Coordinated by al-Fajr Center and as-Sahab Related data can also be found at this source.
As promised, responses have appeared to the various questions placed online. It took a little longer than anticipated, and further installments are due (given the numerous questions that were sent in):
Malaysia Sun, Top al-Qaeda official answers Internet questions, 2 Apr 2008 "In a lengthy audio response to 900 questions submitted to the movement on extremist Web sites, Zawahri made the response that al-Qaeda had not killed any innocents: “not in Baghdad nor in Morocco, nor in Algeria, nor anywhere else.""
AKI, Terrorism: Al-Zawahiri says al-Qaeda does not kill innocent people, 3 Apr 08 "Reports say some 900 questions were posted to al-Qaeda through the websites linked to the group.
""I would like to thank all of those who responded to the open debate with me by our production arm, Al-Sahab, and in particular those who operate within the media Jihad," al-Zawahiri said in the message.
"The al-Qaeda leader apologised for taking so long to respond to the questions that had been posted to the group by al-Qaeda supporters and those curious about the terror network."
Reuters, Zawahri says bin Laden in good health, 3 Apr 08
"Many of the questions, compiled since December, were sharply critical of al Qaeda and its practices, while others sought advice for joining jihad. Zawahri said he will answer more of the questions in a second statement and noted that the delay in response was partly due to security reasons."
A detailed analysis is provided by Laura Mansfield, together with a transcript (as a PDF): Mansfield Report, Zawahiri answers questions in part one of Town Hall: Zawahiri "Open Meeting" brings more questions than answers, 2 April 2008
Of course, the audio file is available through the usual channels. For those unwilling to venture in that direction, Internet Archive currently has an MP3 copy. Archive.org, First Part of Responses by Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri to Open Meeting Coordinated by al-Fajr Center and as-Sahab Related data can also be found at this source.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Trial
toledoblade.com, Toledo terror trial begins with debate about tapes, 2 Apr 08
"Mohammad Zaki Amawi, 28; Marwan Othman El- Hindi, 45, and Wassim I. Mazloum, 26, are each charged with planning to wage a "holy war" using skills they learned on the Internet. Specifically, the government alleged that the three conspired to kill or injure people in the Middle East — including U.S. troops serving in Iraq — by providing "support and resources." They also are charged with "distributing information regarding explosives.""
toledoblade.com, Toledo terror trial begins with debate about tapes, 2 Apr 08
"Mohammad Zaki Amawi, 28; Marwan Othman El- Hindi, 45, and Wassim I. Mazloum, 26, are each charged with planning to wage a "holy war" using skills they learned on the Internet. Specifically, the government alleged that the three conspired to kill or injure people in the Middle East — including U.S. troops serving in Iraq — by providing "support and resources." They also are charged with "distributing information regarding explosives.""
YouTube
CNSNews, YouTube Warned to Remove Koran Film, 2 Apr 08 "The government of the world's most populous Islamic state says YouTube has two days to take down a Dutch lawmaker's provocative film on the Koran or it will block access to the popular video-sharing Web site."
CNSNews, YouTube Warned to Remove Koran Film, 2 Apr 08 "The government of the world's most populous Islamic state says YouTube has two days to take down a Dutch lawmaker's provocative film on the Koran or it will block access to the popular video-sharing Web site."
Jihadi Studies
Thomas Hegghammer, TLS, Jihadi studies, 2 Apr 08 "An astronomical sum of money has been spent on counter-terrorism and homeland security, much of which has gone to private American consultancies with questionable expertise. Then there is the human cost of the search for enemies."
Thomas Hegghammer, TLS, Jihadi studies, 2 Apr 08 "An astronomical sum of money has been spent on counter-terrorism and homeland security, much of which has gone to private American consultancies with questionable expertise. Then there is the human cost of the search for enemies."
Second Life
Mercury News, Congressional hearing in two worlds, 2 Apr 08 "Rosedale said Linden Lab of San Francisco, the maker of Second Life, has cooperated with law enforcement and seen no evidence of activity by terrorists. He also said he suspected that law enforcement had created its own avatars to check out virtual worlds."
Mercury News, Congressional hearing in two worlds, 2 Apr 08 "Rosedale said Linden Lab of San Francisco, the maker of Second Life, has cooperated with law enforcement and seen no evidence of activity by terrorists. He also said he suspected that law enforcement had created its own avatars to check out virtual worlds."
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Reading Matter
A couple of items that I enjoyed reading in the current edition of Saudi Aramco World (Mar/Apr 08):
Tim Mackintosh-Smith's explorations in the footsteps of Ibn Battuta have taken a new twist, with his interesting article on Ibn Battuta Mall: 'Edutaining Dubai'. Shopping, with a museum attached sounds like a frightening concept, but Mackintosh-Smith seems to find a positive angle. The piece has some nice photos. Alas, the Ibn Battuta Mall website is currently a work in progress. However, someone has dropped a video into YouTube of Ibn Battuta Mall, but it doesn't seem to focus on the Ibn Battuta material (only the shops, which look like any mall anywhere!).
Saudi Aramco World has a good piece by Jason Thompson on Edward Lane (and family): 'An
Account of the Journeys and Writings of The Indefatigable Mr. Lane'. I have long been interested in Lane and his output. (Thompson has also written a biography of Lane, and other related work). Also see the Wiki: Edward William Lane. [Illustration: E W Lane, Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians via Al-Ahram Weekly]
A couple of items that I enjoyed reading in the current edition of Saudi Aramco World (Mar/Apr 08):
Tim Mackintosh-Smith's explorations in the footsteps of Ibn Battuta have taken a new twist, with his interesting article on Ibn Battuta Mall: 'Edutaining Dubai'. Shopping, with a museum attached sounds like a frightening concept, but Mackintosh-Smith seems to find a positive angle. The piece has some nice photos. Alas, the Ibn Battuta Mall website is currently a work in progress. However, someone has dropped a video into YouTube of Ibn Battuta Mall, but it doesn't seem to focus on the Ibn Battuta material (only the shops, which look like any mall anywhere!).
Saudi Aramco World has a good piece by Jason Thompson on Edward Lane (and family): 'An
Account of the Journeys and Writings of The Indefatigable Mr. Lane'. I have long been interested in Lane and his output. (Thompson has also written a biography of Lane, and other related work). Also see the Wiki: Edward William Lane. [Illustration: E W Lane, Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians via Al-Ahram Weekly]
Ijtihad
I was just taking a look at commongroundnews.org (below), and found the following, which I haven't posted before. It relates to my previous research, and was published a couple of years ago, but is still relevant:
Common Ground News Service, Special Series: Ijtihad: Interpreting Islamic Law - 2006, 28 Mar 2006 This is a six-part series, with the following contributions:
Significantly, there was also a response to this series from Shaykh Ali Gomaa, Questions from America [PDF]. I haven't read all the articles yet, but it appears to be an accessible series.
I was just taking a look at commongroundnews.org (below), and found the following, which I haven't posted before. It relates to my previous research, and was published a couple of years ago, but is still relevant:
Common Ground News Service, Special Series: Ijtihad: Interpreting Islamic Law - 2006, 28 Mar 2006 This is a six-part series, with the following contributions:
Significantly, there was also a response to this series from Shaykh Ali Gomaa, Questions from America [PDF]. I haven't read all the articles yet, but it appears to be an accessible series.
eTransformation Turkey Project
commongroundnews.org, Itir Akdogan, Emergence of an eTurkey, 25 Mar 08 "In recent years, the eTransformation Turkey Project has become a leading factor in the country's democratisation process. For example, public servants were previously inaccessible and there was an established distance between citizens and the state. But now, five years after the project began, governmental institutions explain their mandates and communicate with the public through the web, and public servants are accessible by email. Turkish citizens, no matter how remote their location, can access information on Ankara."
commongroundnews.org, Itir Akdogan, Emergence of an eTurkey, 25 Mar 08 "In recent years, the eTransformation Turkey Project has become a leading factor in the country's democratisation process. For example, public servants were previously inaccessible and there was an established distance between citizens and the state. But now, five years after the project began, governmental institutions explain their mandates and communicate with the public through the web, and public servants are accessible by email. Turkish citizens, no matter how remote their location, can access information on Ankara."
Facebook
UPI, Muslim cleric decries Facebook, 31 Mar 08, ""The Web site became the subject of controversy in Saudi Arabia after preacher Ali al-Maliki labeled it a destructive force against Islam.
""Facebook is a door to lust and young women and men are spending more on their mobile phones and the Internet than they are spending on food," he said.""
UPI, Muslim cleric decries Facebook, 31 Mar 08, ""The Web site became the subject of controversy in Saudi Arabia after preacher Ali al-Maliki labeled it a destructive force against Islam.
""Facebook is a door to lust and young women and men are spending more on their mobile phones and the Internet than they are spending on food," he said.""
Iranian Internet Law
ibls.com, Iranian Internet Law, n.d. "These questions will be answered: Is the Internet Legal in Iran?, What Law Governs the Internet in Iran?, What About Opening a Blog & Blogger's Rights?, What Laws or Bodies Govern Internet Crimes in Iran?, and What Punishments are Listed for Breaking the Cyber Crimes Law?" A useful summary.
ibls.com, Iranian Internet Law, n.d. "These questions will be answered: Is the Internet Legal in Iran?, What Law Governs the Internet in Iran?, What About Opening a Blog & Blogger's Rights?, What Laws or Bodies Govern Internet Crimes in Iran?, and What Punishments are Listed for Breaking the Cyber Crimes Law?" A useful summary.
Queen Rania - YouTube
AP, Jordan's queen turns to YouTube for campaign aimed at breaking down stereotypes of Muslims, 31 Mar 08 "Jordan's media savvy Queen Rania has launched an appeal on YouTube for a global dialogue to dismantle stereotypes of Muslims and the Arab world, the royal palace said Monday.
"Rania vowed to work to break down such preconceptions and wants people to "know the real Arab world ... unedited, unscripted and unfiltered.""
Also see Queen Rania's YouTube page
AP, Jordan's queen turns to YouTube for campaign aimed at breaking down stereotypes of Muslims, 31 Mar 08 "Jordan's media savvy Queen Rania has launched an appeal on YouTube for a global dialogue to dismantle stereotypes of Muslims and the Arab world, the royal palace said Monday.
"Rania vowed to work to break down such preconceptions and wants people to "know the real Arab world ... unedited, unscripted and unfiltered.""
Also see Queen Rania's YouTube page
Exhibition
Guardian, Less Cookson, more Ali: Tyneside town finds hidden Muslim history, 31 Mar 08 "An
exhibition at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead will next week explore the community of Yemeni sailors who settled in South Shields in their thousands after a sailor called Ali Said first opened an Arab seamen's boarding house there in 1894." See details and photos at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art - Last of The Dictionary Men. There is also a film about Muhammad Ali: bridgeandtunnelproductions.com, The King of South Shields – Experimental Documentary (Digital Video, 2007)
Guardian, Less Cookson, more Ali: Tyneside town finds hidden Muslim history, 31 Mar 08 "An
exhibition at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead will next week explore the community of Yemeni sailors who settled in South Shields in their thousands after a sailor called Ali Said first opened an Arab seamen's boarding house there in 1894." See details and photos at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art - Last of The Dictionary Men. There is also a film about Muhammad Ali: bridgeandtunnelproductions.com, The King of South Shields – Experimental Documentary (Digital Video, 2007)
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