Egypt 5 years on: was it ever a 'social media revolution'?

Maeve Shearlaw, Guardian, Egypt 5 years on: was it ever a 'social media revolution'?, 25 Jan 2016 "But despite western media’s love affair with the idea, the uprisings didn’t happen because of social media. Instead, the platforms provided opportunities for organisation and protest that traditional methods couldn’t."

'Soon in Champs Elysees'

Daily Mail, 'Soon in Champs Elysees': Chilling threat of Paris terrorist brandishing head of man he has just decapitated in martyrdom video – before ISIS claim Britain will be next target, 24 Jan 2016

'The Jihadis Next Door'

Independent, Watch the moment ordinary Muslims shut down ‘jihadis’ trying to spread radical message outside mosques, 20 Jan 2016 "The protest, outside Southall Mosque on Pakistan Independence Day, was filmed as part of Channel 4 documentary, The Jihadis Next Door, in which filmmaker Jamie Roberts investigates British fundamental Muslims as the government continues to clampdown on radicalisation in the UK."

'Extremist romance'

The National, Extremist romance: How terrorists use ‘jihotties’ to lure lonely hearts online, 21 Jan 2016 "Plenty of people look for love online. So maybe it’s no surprise that terrorists who’ve proven themselves adept at digital propagandizing turn to the internet to lure lonely hearts to their cause." [their term, not mine]

'Why we keep getting snared in Islamic State’s propaganda trap'

Haroro J. Ingram, theconversation.com, Why we keep getting snared in Islamic State’s propaganda trap, 21 Jan 2016 "The rise of Islamic State (IS) has reaffirmed what al-Qaeda and the Taliban proved last decade: strategic communications, particularly counter-propaganda efforts, remains one of the key weaknesses of Western counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency strategy."

Snapchat and Religion

Ismat Sarah Mangla, ibtimes.com, Finding God On Snapchat: Jews, Christians And Muslims Connect With Millennial Believers One Snap At A Time, 21 Jan 2016 "Oh come, all ye faithful, to — Snapchat? It sounds unlikely, but the messaging app once associated with sexting teenagers is increasingly becoming a place where religious communities connect. Faith leaders are using Snapchat in a variety of ways to reach millennial believers and help them become more invested in their faith."

'Google Official: Take ISIS Off the Open Web to Stop Its Propaganda Machine'

Newsweek, Google Official: Take ISIS Off the Open Web to Stop Its Propaganda Machine "Google’s “head of ideas” said in a talk on Monday that the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) needs to be pushed off the open Web in order to sever its propaganda machine."

Leila Alaoui

Independent, The artist who was killed by jihadists - and what she was trying to tell the world " Family and colleagues pay tribute to a talented young photographer, shot dead by four heavily-armed thugs in an al-Qaeda attack on a popular café in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso."

'The Qur'an and its Readers Worldwide'

New and noted (III): Contemporary Commentaries and Translations. Edited by Suha Taji-Farouki (OUP)

'The Egyptian Blogosphere and the Revolution of 25th of January'

New and noted (II): Media and Political Contestation in the Contemporary Arab World: A Decade of Change, Editors: Jayyusi, Lena, Roald, Anne Sofie (Eds.), Palgrave Macmillan includes chapter, 'The Egyptian Blogosphere and the Revolution of 25th of January' by Charles Hirschkind

'Sunni Islam and Islamism'

New and noted (I): A Teti, A Mura, 'Sunni Islam and Islamism' in - Routledge Handbook of Religion and Politics, edited by Jeffrey Haynes, Routledge, 2016 includes reference to internet issues (haven't read the whole chapter yet)

Iraq conflict: Civilians suffering 'staggering' violence

BBC News, Iraq conflict: Civilians suffering 'staggering' violence - UN, 19 Jan 2016

#BachaKhanUniversity

BBC News, Pakistan Charsadda: Deadly assault on university, 21 Jan 2016 also see Twitter, #BachaKhanUniversity

Pakistan + YouTube

BBC News, What will Pakistanis see on YouTube?, 20 Jan 2016 "YouTube is back in Pakistan, with a localised domain and a provision that Islamabad can ask for access to material it deems "objectionable" to be blocked." Also see

Wired, YouTube Returns to Pakistan After Three-Year Ban, 20 Jan 2016

'Hating Muslims Online'

Mona Abdel-Fadil, religiongoingpublic.com, Hating Muslims Online "Are there any boundaries for what you can say online - or can you unleash your personal repulsions without further ado?"

West London terror plot accused 'used Twitter to discuss getting gun'

Guardian, West London terror plot accused 'used Twitter to discuss getting gun', 19 Jan 2016

Afghan man slices off wife's nose

Guardian, Afghan man slices off wife's nose, 19 Jan 2016 "Photograph of disfigured 20-year-old provokes revulsion in country where violence against women is widespread."

Libya report

France 24, Libya: Misrata tries to resist Islamic State group "Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been plunged into political instability. Two rival authorities have been competing for power for nearly 18 months and the Islamic State organisation is taking advantage of this institutional chaos to take over part of the country."

'The Islamic State's Territorial Methodology'

Aaron Y. Zelin, The Islamic State's Territorial Methodology, Washington Institute " Since June 2014, when the Islamic State proclaimed itself a caliphate, a pattern has emerged in the way IS expands into new territories and consolidates its control. In this new study, jihadi expert Aaron Y. Zelin provides a framework for understanding how the Islamic State goes from no control to full consolidation of control in a particular area."

Imam, cats and social media

Independent, i100, An Imam in Istanbul has opened up his mosque to the city's stray cats, 17 Jan 2016 "Efe is well known in the city for his "good humour and diligence", the Daily Sabah reports - but a video Efe took of a mother cat taking her kittens from the street into the safety of the mosque has given his everyday acts of compassion a global audience."