France to enlist hackers to tackle jihadists - Manuel Valls

France to enlist hackers to tackle jihadists - The Local " France's Prime Minister Manuel Valls has announced that he plans to turn to computer hackers, often the scourge of governments worldwide, in order to infiltrate online jihadist networks."

Bali bombers’ sons among next generation of Indonesia terrorists

theaustralian.com.au, Bali bombers’ sons among next generation of Indonesia terrorists "Andrie, who monitors social media websites, found more than 50 per cent of Indonesian Facebook and Twitter users supporting or ‘‘sharing’’ Islamic State issues. He says the government is ill-prepared for potential attacks by returning militants, and there is nothing to prohibit them from imparting their radical skills: “They are war heroes now.’’



"Of the more than 10,000 accounts, he says, “I observe the beheadings, battles in some cities in Syria and Iraq, how Indonesians respond, and if they have a relationship with local groups in Indonesia.’’ They do, he found. Eighty per cent of those accessing terrorist networks were high school or university students."

Isil 'help desk'

Telegraph, Isil 'help desk' gives online training in how to avoid being spied on" "Jihadists, including members and supporters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), have formed online ‘help desks’, designed to teach their comrades safe practice, a study by the US-based Counter Terrorism Centre has found."



See Aaron Brantly & Muhammad al-`Ubaydi, CTC, Extremist Forums Provide Digital OpSec Training "The discussions also deal with facilitating secure mobile communications and browsing. A detailed post by Rakan al-Iraqi analyzes the security of several mobile platforms and a number of available communication applications."

'No exit: For female jihadis, Syria is one-way journey'

Lori Hinnant, Associated Press, No exit: For female jihadis, Syria is one-way journey "Only two of the approximately 600 Western girls and young women who have joined extremists in Syria are known to have made it out of the war zone. By comparison, as many as 30 percent of the male foreign fighters have left or are on their way out, according to figures from European governments that monitor the returns."

Iran’s ‘Generation Normal’

Roula Khalaf, FT.com, Iran’s ‘Generation Normal’ " Iranian youth — curious, wired and desperate for normality — are forcing change that horrifies their rulers." Worth reading!

'Global cyber-strategy needed to confront 'IS' and other terror groups'

Global cyber-strategy needed to confront 'IS' and other terror groups | Opinion | DW.DE | 28 May 15 "The world's most well-known coalition of religious fanatics is using digital technology in many innovative ways. Take, for example, how it created an Android Phone App “the Dawn of Glad Tidings”, which builds up a user database that churns out flash news items and horrific imagery. ISIS also produces online guidebooks like the ‘Hijrah' (Holy Emigration) providing tips to people on how to get into Syria undetected. Last but not least, it controls an estimated 46,000 active Twitter accounts."

'Friday sermon wants jihad on Internet falsehood'

malaysiakini.com, Friday sermon wants jihad on Internet falsehood "The Friday sermon delivered at mosques across the Federal Territories today called on Muslims to launch a jihad (holy war) against falsehood spread on the social media."

Missing Tajik Police Commander Appears On Internet, Says Has Joined IS

rferl.org, Missing Tajik Police Commander Appears On Internet, Says Has Joined IS "A top Tajik police commander who has been missing for weeks has reappeared on the Internet, claiming that he has joined the Islamic State (IS) militant group in protest at official restrictions on religious observance back home."

Iran: Internet dating website launched by state

Iran: Internet dating website launched by state - BBC News "The new site is called hamsan.tebyan.net and is run by the Islamic Development Organisation, an institution under the supervision of the Supreme Leader that promotes the Islamic lifestyle."

First Footage Of Islamic State Grooming HQ

Sky News, First Footage Of Islamic State Grooming HQ This also discusses ‘Till Erin Marie Saltman & Melanie Smith, Martyrdom Do Us Part’ Gender and the ISIS Phenomenon, Institute for Strategic Dialogue [pdf link]

The digital language divide

Guardian, The digital language divide "How does the language you speak shape your experience of the internet?" There is some fascinating research highlighted in this article by Holly Young.

More -- not less -- religion needed to fight extremism, imam director says

PBS, More -- not less -- religion needed to fight extremism, imam director says
 
This PBS report refers to the importance of internet training for imams (from Mali), and discusses the impact of onine religious authority.

Casablanca Calling

Emma Batha, Reuters/Huffington Post, How Morocco's Islamic Women Preachers Are Leading A Social Revolution "Hannane is one of a new generation of female religious leaders, known as morchidat -- part of a quiet social revolution in the North African country.


"Their groundbreaking work is the subject of a British film, "Casablanca Calling," which will be showcased on Tuesday night at an international conference on child marriage in Morocco's famous port city."




More information can be found on the 'Casablanca Calling' website. 

'Women, “Celebrity” Shaykhs, and Spiritual Abuse'

Ustadha Zaynab Ansari, muslimmatters.org, Blurred Lines: Women, “Celebrity” Shaykhs, and Spiritual Abuse "I believe the celebrity Shaykh is a victim of his own success, a product of the techno-obsessed culture that dictates that every 'alim, school, and institution market its “authentic,” “classical” and “traditional” Islamic “products and services” or perish. Moreover, the celebrity Shaykh has become enthroned on a pedestal, the pedestal of unimpeachable piety and character, the pedestal of “see no wrong, do no wrong,” in which we, the adoring students, have cast this very fallible human being as larger than life." There are some interesting points regarding 'celebrity' and boundaries in this piece by Ustadha Zaynab Ansari.

2015 Internet Trends Report

2015 Internet Trends Report

2015 Internet Trends Report from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers

Interesting to consider how it applies to my research.

Young Saudis, Bound by Conservative Strictures, Find Freedom on Their Phones

NY Times, Young Saudis, Bound by Conservative Strictures, Find Freedom on Their Phones "Being increasingly wired, however, will not necessarily bring Western-style liberalization. Religious conservatives use social media as adeptly as liberals, and many young Saudis remain committed to and proud of their culture. Even those who want change say it must come gradually."

Iranian Cartoon Contest Lampoons IS, Alleged Backers

RFE/RL, Iranian Cartoon Contest Lampoons IS, Alleged Backers "A man with a long dark beard sits immersed in blood in a bathtub shaped like the map of Iraq. A machine gun is propped against the wall behind him."

Jihadi threat requires move into 'private space' of UK Muslims, says police chief

Guardian, Jihadi threat requires move into 'private space' of UK Muslims, says police chief "Islamist propaganda is so potent it is influencing children as young as five and should be countered with intensified monitoring to detect the earliest signs of anti-western sentiment, Britain’s most senior Muslim police chief has warned."

Israel jails Palestinians for Facebook comments

aljazeera.com, Israel jails Palestinians for Facebook comments

Skyping with the enemy: I went undercover as a jihadi girlfriend

Guardian, Skyping with the enemy: I went undercover as a jihadi girlfriend "When a French journalist posed online as a young woman interested in Isis, she was soon contacted by a fighter in Syria. He proposed marriage – but could she maintain a double life?"