'We already have a Muslim registry. It’s called Facebook'

qz.com, We already have a Muslim registry. It’s called Facebook, 30 Dec 2016 [opinion piece by Michael J Coren] "Every major US technology company that tracks customers’ behavior (and that is most of them) is already a registry, and not just for Muslims. Data warehoused by Google, Twitter, Facebook, Verizon, AT&T, Visa, ad networks and others are capable of pinpointing minorities, as well as those with dissident views, says the advocacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)."

Viral video “Hwages”

alarabiya.net, Music clip of Skateboarding niqab-clad women takes Saudi Arabia by storm, 26 Dec 2016 "The song and music clip titled “Hwages” (roughly translated as concerns in English) was uploaded on YouTube on Dec. 23 and has gained more nearly half a million views since then." [4.2m hits 10 Jan 2017]

Police unit removes 250,000 terror items from internet

Sky News, Police unit removes 250,000 terror items from internet, 23 Dec 2016 UK story

Berlin

dw.com, 'Islamic State' claims responsibility for Berlin attack, 20 Dec 2016

 Telegraph, Berlin terror attack: Police hunt for Tunisian man after finding identity document in truck, as Isil claims responsibility

  Fox News, ISIS social media accounts promoted use of trucks as weapons more than a month before Berlin attack

Russian ambassador killing

BBC News, Russian ambassador killing: Photographer who captured the scene, 20 Dec 2016

Telegraph, Turkey claims followers of US-exiled cleric killed Russian ambassador

Cyberspace, Terrorism and International Law

David Fidler, "Cyberspace, Terrorism and International Law" in  Special Issue on Non-State Actors & Cyberspace Conflict Security Law (2016)

Yemen

BBC Radio 4, The Briefing Room, Yemen "Yemen is in crisis. After 20 months of conflict, children are dying of malnutrition. This week the Disasters Emergency Committee launched a major appeal for aid.

"But what are the causes of Yemen's civil war and who is fighting? Is it correct to describe it as a "proxy war" between Saudi Arabia and Iran?

"David Aaronovitch is joined by two experts with intimate knowledge of Yemen."

Excellent programme on Yemen

Salafism in Germany

Independent, Saudi Arabia and Gulf states 'support Islamic extremism in Germany,' intelligence report finds, 12 Dec 2016 "A brief seen by the Süddeutsche Zeitung and broadcasters NDR and WDR raised concern over a reported increase in support for fundamentalist Salafism in Germany, warning that the ideology already has 10,000 followers and is growing."

'Hamas blames Israel for assassination of drone chief'

aljazeera.com, Hamas blames Israel for assassination of drone chief, 18 Dec 2016 "Palestinian group says Zawari was part of its military wing for 10 years and vowed revenge against "the Zionist enemy"."

Why defeating Islamic State means taking on the digital caliphate

newstatesman.com, Why defeating Islamic State means taking on the digital caliphate reviews Liam Byrne's book "Black Flag Down: Counter-Extremism, Defeating Isis and Winning the Battle of Ideas" (Biteback)



I haven't seen the book yet, but here's the cover:

‘Tabayyun’ in the age of social media

Dr Shaikh Mohd Saifuddeen Shaikh Mohd Salleh,‘Tabayyun’ in the age of social media - IKIM Views | The Star Online "Tabayyun requires us to think before we share, and to share only information that is verified and authenticated. If we are unsure, it is best not to share or forward such information."

Lighting the Path: The Story of the Islamic State’s Media Enterprise

Craig Whiteside, warontherocks.com, Lighting the Path: The Story of the Islamic State’s Media Enterprise reviews media issues

'Shari'a Law Meets the Internet'

Dennis MacEoin, gatestoneinstitute.org, Shari'a Law Meets the Internet, 8 Dec 2016

Analysis/opinion which includes a review of some Q&A/fatwa websites.

Aleppo

The terrible situation in Aleppo is playing out on social media, as indicated by the links below:



aljazeera.com, Aleppo situation 'catastrophic' as rebels are cornered



Guardian, Reports of Aleppo civilians shot on the spot by pro-regime forces – UN



 Sky News, 'Complete meltdown of humanity' in Aleppo





BBC News, Battle for Aleppo: The final goodbyes from a city under siege



NBC News, Aleppo Siege Leaves Streets 'Full With Dead Bodies,' Humanitarian Group Says

'A War of Keywords'

Centre on Religion & Geopolitics (CRG) and Digitalis Reputation, A War of Keywords links to report Mubaraz Ahmed & Fred Lloyd George, A War of Keywords [pdf] I have yet to read the report.

#DigitalParenting

Ofcom, Reports Exploring Children’s Media Use #DigitalParenting

The Internet Lost Its Mind After A Muslim Posted On Facebook About Peppa Pig

Aisha Gani, Buzzfeed, The Internet Lost Its Mind After A Muslim Posted On Facebook About Peppa Pig "Later, Alshaik said in a statement posted on Facebook that his comment about the beloved TV show had been misconstrued in reports."

The Crusades: An Arab Perspective

aljazeera.com, The Crusades: An Arab Perspective have yet to see this

ISIL Libya

aljazeera.com, Is this the beginning of the end for ISIL in Libya?

'Man in the Hat' Abrini spills ISIS terror gang's secrets

NBC News, 'Man in the Hat' Abrini spills ISIS terror gang's secrets

New IS Spokesman Takes Aim at West, Turkey and Iran

VOA News, New IS Spokesman Takes Aim at West, Turkey and Iran, 5 Dec 2016 "IS, through it's al-Furqan media division, released an audio recording of Abu Hassan al-Muhajir, naming him as the replacement for Abu Muhammad al-Adnani. Adnani was killed in a U.S. drone strike near al-Bab, Syria August 30."

Here Are 9 Things Trump's National Security Adviser Pick Actually Thinks About Islam

buzzfeed.com, Here Are 9 Things Trump's National Security Adviser Pick Actually Thinks About Islam " Enter the world of retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn’s book, The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies."

Conflicting Fundamentalisms and Shi’ite Political Power

Justin McCauley, Analyst, Gulf State Analytics, indrastra.com, OPINION | Conflicting Fundamentalisms and Shi’ite Political Power

From policing to news, how algorithms are changing our lives

Carl Miller, The National, From policing to news, how algorithms are changing our lives "Something is now happening in society that is throwing algorithms into the spotlight. They have taken on a new significance, even an allure and mystique. Algorithms are simply tools but a web of new technologies are vastly increasing the power that these tools have over our lives."

'After the Islamic State'

Robin Wright, New Yorker, After the Islamic State, 12 Dec 2016 "As the caliphate crumbles, rival movements struggle for the soul of Sunni jihadism."

How Facebook hurt the Syrian Revolution

aljazeera.com, How Facebook hurt the Syrian Revolution "Erica Chenoweth, a professor at the School of International Studies at the University of Denver, has argued that social media is helping dictators, while giving the masses an illusion of empowerment and political worthiness."

Tech is upending the ways we write, speak, and even think

DigitalTrends, Tech is upending the ways we write, speak, and even think

The Islamists : The Compass, Islam, People and Power

BBC World Service, The Compass, The Islamists: The Compass, Islam, People and Power "What should the relationship be between Islam and the state? This is the question which dominates political debate in the Arab world. Many traditional Islamic scholars believe in the separation of religion and politics. For the Muslim Brotherhood though – the Arab world’s foremost social and political movement - the goal is to create an Islamic state."

Isis recruiters targeting refugees in Europe, say counter-terror experts

Guardian, Isis recruiters targeting refugees in Europe, say counter-terror experts opinion

Assad Henchman: Here’s How We Built ISIS

thedailybeast.com, Assad Henchman: Here’s How We Built ISIS "This three-part series documents the Syrian dictator's sinister contributions to this tale of terrorism and horror. First, he tried to ingratiate himself with Western leaders by portraying the national uprising against him as a terrorist-led revolt. When that failed, he released jailed Islamic extremists who’d fought against U.S. troops in Iraq, then staged phony attacks on government facilities, which he blamed on terrorists. Far from fighting ISIS, Assad looked the other way when it set up a state-within-a-state with its capital in Raqqa, and left it to the U.S. and others to counter the Islamic extremists."

Meet Gaza's female geeks

aljazeera.com, Meet Gaza's female geeks, 30 Nov 2016 "The Gaza Sky Geeks mentorship programme has been encouraging more girls and young women to learn coding."

Arrested German spy was gay porn actor, source says

CNN, Arrested German spy was gay porn actor, source says "He had worked for the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution since April, it said. He was arrested November 16 over allegations of sharing protected materials and making Islamist statements online."

Top NU cleric shows how to deal with online insults

thejakartapost.com, Top NU cleric shows how to deal with online insults "At a time when internet comments can send people to jail or ignite a rowdy protest on the street for offending the powers-that-be or the majority, a respected and influential Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) cleric’s decision to forgive the man who insulted him on Twitter has been met with praise."

Gambian election

Reuters, Gambia's Jammeh dealt shock election loss after 22-year rule "Gambians had voted on Thursday amid a total blackout of the internet and all international calls, and with land borders sealed. European Union observers were barred and only a small team of African Union observers came."

Islamic State tells supporters to quit messaging apps for fear of U.S. bombs

reuters.com, Islamic State tells supporters to quit messaging apps for fear of U.S. bombs, 1 Dec 2016 " Islamic state has told its members to stop using internet-based communication apps like WhatsApp and Telegram on smartphones, suspecting they are being used by the U.S.-led coalition to track and kill its commanders."

DJ Khaled: Snapchat superstar

BBC News, DJ Khaled: Snapchat superstar

Pakistan Internet censorship

Open Society, Internet censorship in Pakistan is reaching new heights, threatening the rights to privacy and free speech.

'Selfie Jihad'

Jason Burke, The Age of Selfie Jihad: How Evolving Media Technology is Changing Terrorism PDF of the CTCWP Journal 'Sentinel' (scroll down for article on page 16 - other content looks interesting too!)

Aleppo's 7-year-old social media star is now 'on the run' with her mom

NVC, Aleppo's 7-year-old social media star is now 'on the run' with her mom

'ISIS Social Media Experts Are Killed as Result of F.B.I. Program'

NYT, One by One, ISIS Social Media Experts Are Killed as Result of F.B.I. Program, 24 Nov 2016

Interpol: Use Biometric Data to Track Down Islamic State Fighters

inhomelandsecurity.com, Interpol: Use Biometric Data to Track Down Islamic State Fighters

Talking with the Founder of MuslimGirl About Social Media, Islamic Feminism, and How 9/11 Never Really Ended

papermag.com, Talking with the Founder of MuslimGirl About Social Media, Islamic Feminism, and How 9/11 Never Really Ended

Analysis of Cyber Trends 2016

ict.org.il, Analysis of Cyber Trends 2016

Stacey in Iraq, Stacey on the Frontline: Girls, Guns and ISIS

Stacey in Iraq, Stacey on the Frontline: Girls, Guns and ISIS - BBC Three recommended

An extremist in the family

BBC News, An extremist in the family excellent report

Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf : The Alt-Right in Pakistan

Kunwar Khuldune Shahid, The Nation, PTI: The Alt-Right in Pakistan, 21 Nov 2016 "The Alt-Right flourishes in online forums like 4chan or Reddit and has snowballed on Twitter. The movement’s archetypal adherent relishes online anonymity to engage in social media meme warfare, exhibiting supremacism, populism, conspiracism and masculinism – basically the sketch of the infamous PTI troll."

This Muslim Teen Had A Sublime Rebuttal To A Classmate Asking Her To Defend Her Religion

aplus.com, This Muslim Teen Had A Sublime Rebuttal To A Classmate Asking Her To Defend Her Religion "Recently in one of her classes, Hashmi was confronted by another student who asked why Muslims did not condemn violence when perpetrators committed such acts in the name of Islam. Of course we do, she responded, but the conversation kept going in circles, leaving the both of them equally frustrated.



"So Hashmi decided that she had had enough. At home, she dug deep into the corners of the internet and created an extensive, painstakingly organized list of Muslim figures who condemned violent acts committed in the name of Islam."

The 5 Worst Places To Be An Internet User In Southeast Asia

forbes.com, The 5 Worst Places To Be An Internet User In Southeast Asia  "Freedom House, a U.S.-based NGO/research organization, released their annual Freedom of the Net report last week, and overall the results were not good."

Authorities: Times Square cited in Islamic State group case

wtnh.com, Authorities: Times Square cited in Islamic State group case

NIA starts removing Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation's online contents

newindianexpress.com, NIA starts removing Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation's online contents

ISIS Twitter Guide

Jerusalem Post, ISIS publishes a ‘how to’ outfox Twitter guide "The terrorist entity has published a guide on how to outfox Twitter’s efforts, according to an advance copy of a report by the Jihadi Websites Monitoring Group of IDC’s International Institute for Counter-Terrorism obtained by The Jerusalem Post."

Jakarta's social media

Guardian, Welcome to Twitter city: is there no limit to Jakarta's social media obsession?, 21 Nov 2016 "The predilection for humour has led to an equally ubiquitous habit: an obsession with social media. There are about 80 million social media users in Indonesia, and the country is among the biggest users of Facebook and Twitter worldwide."

Get good guys to fight ISIS online

straitstimes.com, Get good guys to fight ISIS online "So while ISIS is slowly ceding its territory in the Middle East, on the Internet, it is spreading its tentacles far and wide, an Insight round-table discussion heard."

Social media and internet link to radicalism is overstated, finds study

Social media and internet link to radicalism is overstated, finds study - Economic and Social Research Council "Government initiatives aimed at preventing extremism, particularly amongst young Muslims, assume that the internet and social media are the main way in which young people are being radicalised.



"However this new study 'Social Media and Political Attitudes' challenges this assumption, showing that internet and social media use are not strongly or consistently associated with radical intentions."

'True religion:' How Salafists lure supporters

DW.com, 'True religion:' How Salafists lure supporters | NRS-Import | 15 Nov 16 ""Islam is presented as though it is all about violence, hate, forced marriage and terror" - that's how a video on the internet site of the "True Religion" group starts off. Now banned by the German Interior Ministry, the organization was founded by Ibrahim Abou Nagie, a German Muslim with a Palestinian background."

From WhatsApp to Hawala, How the Taliban Moves Money Around

motherboard.vice.com, From WhatsApp to Hawala, How the Taliban Moves Money Around "The Taliban has been trying to fundraise on the internet longer than Afghanistan’s current government has existed. In recent years, however, the insurgents have turned to internet messaging platforms secured by end-to-end encryption, such as Telegram, Viber, and WhatsApp, to solicit donations."

Studying Islam in practice

Review by Ron Geaves of Studying Islam in practice, edited by Gabriele Marranci, London, Routledge, 2014. Review in British Journal of Religious Education 37, no. 2 (2015): 211-14. I have a chapter in this book.

Founders’ Day

UWTSD celebrates Founders’ Day (Press Release), 14 Nov 2016 "As the oldest degree-awarding institution in England and Wales after the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, UWTSD is immensely proud of its heritage and looks forward to celebrating the birthday of its founder - Bishop Thomas Burgess – with a lecture given by the University’s Professor Gary Bunt."

Deep Web: The ‘Dark’ Side Of Islamic State – Analysis

eurasiareview.com, Deep Web: The ‘Dark’ Side Of Islamic State – Analysis

The ‘Caliph’ Speaks

Graeme Wood, theatlantic.com, The ‘Caliph’ Speaks "For months now, Islamic State supporters have likened the coming battle for Mosul to the battle between Muhammad and the Ahzab. Baghdadi’s speech is the most prominent document to make the analogy. (I have seen it previously in individuals’ posts on Telegram, the Islamic State’s current favorite messaging app.) Those eager to see parallels between the present and the past, and take from them confidence that the Islamic State will prevail just as Muhammad did, will find them in abundance." Interesting piece by Graeme Wood

Alt-Right trolls argue for hours with Twitter bot

boingboing.net, Alt-Right trolls argue for hours with Twitter bot

Turkey blocks social media

turkeyblocks.org, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and WhatsApp shutdown in Turkey

Source: @TurkeyBlocks

also see:

ZDNet, Turkey blocks WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter across the country

Independent, WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and more down in Turkey in apparent internet ban "Turkey Blocks, a website that tracks issues with the internet in Turkey, claimed that web traffic including that for WhatsApp was subject to throttling, where connections are slowed down to the point they are unusable. It claimed that the internet ban was related to the arrest of some political activists the night before the outage went into effect."

Khizr Khan and the Presidential Election Mark a Muslim Moment in American History

huffingtonpost.com, Khizr Khan and the Presidential Election Mark a Muslim Moment in American History

MuslimGirl - the book

bustle.com, Amani Al-Khatahtbeh's Memoir 'Muslim Girl' Details Her Coming-Of-Age Experience In Post-9/11 America "When Amani Al-Khatahtbeh was 17, she started a blog called MuslimGirl, which has now grown into a full website and a revolutionary force in the media."

Two main IS obsessions: beards and concubines

kuwaittimes.net, Two main IS obsessions: beards and concubines "After Islamic State conquered villages in northern Iraq, it spelled out in minute detail the rules of its self-proclaimed caliphate, from beard length to alms to guidelines for taking women as sex slaves. Islamic State documents and posters, obtained in villages captured by Iraqi forces, highlight a tight and comprehensive system of rule by the militants, who went to great lengths to explain their extremist philosophy."

'Inspire' and other magazines

strategypage.com, Information Warfare: Deadly Demographics Doom Online Magazines " Resurgence and Al Somood appealed to a specific audience (Somali, Afghan and Pakistani expatriates in English speaking countries) to mainly obtain recruits for al Shabaab and the Taliban. All three of these publications attracted a lot of attention from the mass media and politicians but otherwise were ineffective. For example not a lot of captured Islamic terrorists note these magazines as being an influence on them. The same pattern was found when analyzing online “chatter” among active Islamic terrorists. Some Islamic terrorist groups noted this and tried to adapt." Opinoin about the 'effectiveness' of Inspire and other magazines.

Africa Should Brace for Influx of Islamic State Jihadists - opinion

Iban Bantu, allafrica.com, Africa Should Brace for Influx of Islamic State Jihadists, 4 Nov 2016 "IS has managed to knit together a network that stretches from Aleppo in Syria to Abuja, with Libyan borders as the perfect launch pads for regional attacks. That IS is seeking sanctuary in Africa is not a dream, it is a reality." Opinion piece

How social media is preventing the ISIS advance online

The Economic Times, How social media is preventing the ISIS advance online " How Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet via its think-tank Jigsaw are helping thwart the ISIS advance online."

Wikileaks “sourced” conspiracy theories linking Hillary Clinton to ISIL are going viral in China

qz.com, Wikileaks “sourced” conspiracy theories linking Hillary Clinton to ISIL are going viral in China

How Anonymous and Other Hacktivists Fight ISIS Online

motherboard, How Anonymous and Other Hacktivists Fight ISIS Online "We looked at what hacktivists have been doing against ISIS in the last couple of years for this week’s CYBERWAR episode. You can watch it on VICELAND on Tuesday, at 10:30 PM ET/PT. As an appetizer, read some of Motherboard’s past stories about Anonymous and ISIS online activities."

BBC Arabic - Shame

BBC Arabic - Shame includes The No. 1 Saudi Ladies Mobile Phone Shop

Cell phone analysis

dailycaller.com, Autopsies On Dead ISIS Fighters More About Cell Phones Than Blood And Guts "More than 120,000 documents and nearly 20 terabytes of digital information were recovered in August when U.S.-backed Syrian rebel forces recaptured Manbij, an ISIS stronghold in northern Syria."

This is Islamic State’s instant messaging app of choice

cmp.com, This is Islamic State’s instant messaging app of choice "For the Islamic State’s top Southeast Asian propagandist Bahrun Naim, the ultra-secure instant messaging app Telegram is a godsend as popular social networks Twitter and Facebook race to weed out web-savvy militants like him."

In Opinion: ISIS defeats cause collapse of online propaganda

Newsweek, In Opinion: ISIS defeats cause collapse of online propaganda "Military advances against territory held by the Islamic State group (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria have produced a welcome byproduct: a marked decline by 70 to 80 percent in the output of social media propaganda by the group." Refers to RAND, Examining ISIS Support and Opposition Networks on Twitter

Facebook post mocking Islamic holy site sparks violence in Bangladesh

foxnews.com, Facebook post mocking Islamic holy site sparks violence in Bangladesh

Ghana’s Islamic online radio

Meet the Economics graduate who is CEO of Ghana’s Islamic online radio | Africanews "GH Islamic Radio (GIR) is an online radio that makes it easy for people all over the world to listen LIVE, to Islamic events, lectures, friday sermons etc. in the comfort of their home via the internet.

"People can listen via their website [islamicradiogh.com] and android App – fully created and managed by Shaibu – and is available for free on Google Play Store."

Murabitin Brigade

isis.liveuamap.com, The Islamic state confirms the Murabitin Brigade lead by Abul-Walid as-Sahrawi in northern Mali has pledged allegiance to ISIS

The Skype sex scam - a fortune built on shame

BBC News, The Skype sex scam - a fortune built on shame "One night a young Palestinian man living abroad fell victim to an online scam, involving a web camera and a beautiful woman. Here Samir (not his real name) tells the story of how he was trapped - and below the BBC's Reda el Mawy visits the Moroccan boomtown where many of the scammers are based."

Sisi wants change

middleeastmonitor.com, Sisi wants change: Khaled Mokhtar's Facebook group published a video, which resulted in his arrest on 21 October and being charged two days later

Watch the most iconic Arab Vine moments as Twitter axes app

middleeasteye.net, VIDEO: Watch the most iconic Arab Vine moments as Twitter axes app

'In God's Name: A young American who grew up in the heartland tells Scott Pelley what made him try to join ISIS in Syria'

CBS News, In God's Name: A young American who grew up in the heartland tells Scott Pelley what made him try to join ISIS in Syria "About 260 Americans have joined, or tried to join, terrorists overseas. And many of us wonder how in God’s name does that happen? How is an American drawn into a group that seeks to destroy everything that America stands for? Abdirizak Warsame has an exotic name but he was an American teenager, living with his mom in Minneapolis, who became the leader of an ISIS cell sending other young men from Minneapolis to their deaths. Warsame will be sentenced soon, he is facing up to 15 years in prison but he was released from jail, for one day, to talk to us, before the judge passes sentence, to explain how he fell for ISIS in God’s name."

FBI’s Online Anti-Extremism Effort Meets Resistance

WSJ, FBI’s Online Anti-Extremism Effort Meets Resistance

How Islamic State Weaponized the Chat App to Direct Attacks on the West

WSJ, How Islamic State Weaponized the Chat App to Direct Attacks on the West "It is inside those channels that the extremist group moves from semipublic propaganda to encrypted chats. In the invitation-only chat rooms, Islamic State sympathizers debate Islamist ideology, discuss tactics and cheer on terrorist attacks, according to the Journal’s examination of such channels’ content. When followers are ready to take action, they are invited to communicate one-on-one with a recruiter via an encrypted function called secret chat that can evade detection by intelligence services, authorities say."

Teenage Tube alert suspect Damon Smith 'in love with IS'

Sky News, Teenage Tube alert suspect Damon Smith 'in love with IS' "Friends say the poker-loving teen was enamoured with Islamic State and watched videos of executions that the group posted online."

Saudi Arabian artists confront Islamophobia on US road trip

Guardian, Saudi Arabian artists confront Islamophobia on US road trip – video

Malware

Guardian, Cyber attack: hackers 'weaponised' everyday devices with malware to mount assault

The model and the mullah: Pakistan's 'Kim Kardashian'

BBC News, The model and the mullah: Pakistan's 'Kim Kardashian'

What Isis lost in Dabiq

Milo Comerford, New Statesman, What Isis lost in Dabiq

Snapchat, Skype, Blackberry get low marks on privacy protection

Euronews, Snapchat, Skype, Blackberry get low marks on privacy protection

Victory over Isis will stream live on Facebook. But defeat won’t

Peter Preston, Guardian, Victory over Isis will stream live on Facebook. But defeat won’t opinion piece

How Sweden became an exporter of jihad

BBC News, How Sweden became an exporter of jihad Yalda Hakim's report is worth watching: "Sweden is a peaceful democratic state that has long been a safe haven for those fleeing conflict. Yet many young people whose families took refuge there are now turning their back on the country. More than 300 people have gone to fight in Syria and Iraq, making Sweden per capita one of the biggest exporters of jihadists in Europe."

ISIL Deserters Speak Out

aljazeera.com, ISIL Deserters Speak Out

ACSC Threat Report: The real messages

ACSC Threat Report: The real messages | ZDNet interesting analysis from Australia

MTN invests in Iran’s own Uber

IOL, MTN invests in Iran’s own Uber "MTN Group, the South African wireless carrier with $1 billion stuck in Iran, agreed to make an investment of 20 million euros ($22 million) that will support Snapp.ir, the Islamic Republic’s first cab-hailing smartphone application."

Being Muslim in the Age of Trump

theislamicmonthly.com, Being Muslim in the Age of Trump "Muslims must understand that in the age of the internet, most people will learn about Islam through the internet, and if Muslims do not take ownership of the content about Islam on the internet, Islamophobes will, as they already have done."

Africa's First Internet Addiction Rehab Opens In Algeria

afkinsider.com, Africa's First Internet Addiction Rehab Opens In Algeria "The Maghreb nation is facing a crisis from the technological developments where its citizens spend a whole day on the internet, some without taking their meals or taking showers, Aljazeera reported."

Islamic State’s Propaganda Campaign Falling Off Sharply

VOA News, Islamic State’s Propaganda Campaign Falling Off Sharply "A study released this week by the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, shows there has been a plunge during the past 12 months in IS' digital media production, declining from a peak of 761 releases a month in August of 2015, to just 194 a year later." Report link here, CTC, Communication Breakdown: Unraveling the Islamic State’s Media Efforts

Saudi Cyber 'flirting'

Indy100, A Saudi teen flirted online with a woman in California and ended up in jail

Indonesia: The Saudis Are Coming

NY Books, Indonesia: The Saudis Are Coming "Fights over competing versions of Islam have a long history in overwhelmingly Sunni Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, and the Saudi-funded university now has a major part in the contemporary battle."

Long Story Short: Islam

ISIS using Google Maps to plot airport and plane terror attacks, report warns

Express, ISIS using GOOGLE MAPS to plot airport and plane terror attacks, report warns "Spain’s Centre against Terrorism and Organised Crime (Citco) warned of fresh dangers to travellers in a new report entitled ‘Terrorist Threat Against Civil Aviation’."

The Clever Way This Website Is Fighting Islamophobia

fusion.net, The Clever Way This Website Is Fighting Islamophobia "Launched on Sept. 15, Islamically.com is fighting back against negative media portrayals of Muslims by showing site visitors what Islam actually teaches. To do this, the website offers English-language media, including articles, Instagram-esque photos, and subtitled video clips of weekly sermons from local mosques across the United States. It also lists contact information of local imams, so visitors can contact them directly via email or phone. For now, though, Islamically only features mosques and imams in New Jersey, where the site’s creator is based."

5 suspected ISIS fighters arrested in Spain, Belgium and Germany

Daily Star Costa del Terror fears: 5 suspected ISIS fighters arrested in Spain, Belgium and Germany links to web recruitment issues. Also see thelocal.de, Man arrested in Wuppertal as part of Spanish Isis raids

How the Headscarf Is Being Exploited to Serve the West

muslimgirl.com, How the Headscarf Is Being Exploited to Serve the West

Iran's National Internet

smallmedia.org, Filterwatch, Iran's National Internet "Last month, the Iranian government announced that phase 1 of its national information network has been completed. But what does that actually mean for internet users in Iran? Will this really lead to Iranians being cut off from the global internet? In today’s show, I’ll put these questions and more to a technology reporter with BBC Persian, who will give us his take on what the future holds for Iran’s national internet."

California Man Gets 30-Year Prison Sentence for Trying to Help Islamic State

WSJ, California Man Gets 30-Year Prison Sentence for Trying to Help Islamic State

The Muslims of Cuba

aljazeera.com, The Muslims of Cuba non-tech, recommended article. "How a new crop of neighbourhood entrepreneurs are helping spread awareness about a fledgling religious community."

Kosovo Hacker Who Aided Islamic State Is Sentenced to 20 Years

NewsFactor Network, Kosovo Hacker Who Aided Islamic State Is Sentenced to 20 Years, 27 Sep 2016

Gunman kills Jordanian writer charged over anti-Islam cartoon: Report

middleeasteye.net, Gunman kills Jordanian writer charged over anti-Islam cartoon: Report "The cartoon Hattar posted on his Facebook page featured an illustration of God under the title "God of Daesh," using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State (IS) group"

Foreign hacker who aided Islamic State gets 20 years in U.S.

AP/Japan Times, Foreign hacker who aided Islamic State gets 20 years in U.S. "A computer hacker who helped the Islamic State by providing names of more than 1,000 U.S. government and military workers as potential targets was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison."

VIDEO: Women in Iran defy fatwa by riding bikes in public

middleeasteye.net, VIDEO: Women in Iran defy fatwa by riding bikes in public, 22 Sep 2016 video link here "Iranian women have been posting photos and videos of themselves cycling, defying a state-issued fatwa that claims riding a bike threatens a woman's chastity."

Radio station challenges ISIL in Mosul

aljazeera.com, Radio station challenges ISIL in Mosul "Despite the risks, Alghad FM broadcasts information and commentary into the ISIL stronghold via frontline transmitters."

‘In-Betweeners’ Are Part of a Rich Recruiting Pool for Jihadists

NYT, ‘In-Betweeners’ Are Part of a Rich Recruiting Pool for Jihadists "A rich recruiting pool for Al Qaeda and the Islamic State includes what psychologists call “in-betweeners,” young adults whose identities have not yet solidified. Their uncertainty makes them vulnerable, said J. Reid Meloy, a forensic psychologist and clinical professor at the University of California, San Diego. “It allows the individual to attach his identity to something that is larger and inflates his sense of himself,” he said." [not necessarily a gender specific issue, surely?]

Excommunicating Saudis? A New Fracture Emerges in Islam

wsj.com, Excommunicating Saudis? A New Fracture Emerges in Islam, 22 Sep 2016 "Political conflicts in the Middle East between the Saudi-led camp of Sunni powers and a rival Shiite camp led by Iran have already morphed into a religious war. Now, a theological dispute within Sunni Islam is causing another regional political rift—a result of an initially obscure conference in Russia’s Chechen Republic."

IS executes 12 militants for attempting to flee Raqqa: Report

middleeasteye.net, IS executes 12 militants for attempting to flee Raqqa: Report "The Islamic State (IS) group publicly executed a dozen militants for attempting to desert their posts in the Syrian province of Raqqa, according to activist reports."

Bahrain

CBC, Canadian company helped Bahrain block opposition, anti-Islam websites, says report Allegations: "Canadian technology company Netsweeper helped the Bahraini government block opposition party websites, various news websites and content critical of Islam, according to a new report by the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs." Report link here: Citizen Lab, Tender Confirmed, Rights At Risk: Verifying Netsweeper in Bahrain

In China, Fears of ‘Creeping Sharia’ Proliferate Online

foreignpolicy.com, In China, Fears of ‘Creeping Sharia’ Proliferate Online "Over the past six months, Chinese social media outlets have been electrified by Chinese Muslim calls for a statute to regulate halal food production. On social media platform Weibo, some Chinese grassroots netizens and even scholars have equated the effort to an exercise in terrorism and linked it to Chinese Muslim radicalization. The ugly rhetoric says far more about the state of Islamophobia in China than it does about the merits of halal regulation."

Kuwait royal jailed for three years for 'insulting' ruler

Middle East Eye, Kuwait royal jailed for three years for 'insulting' ruler "A Kuwaiti royal was ordered to pay $16,500 in compensation after being convicted of insulting the emir and several other royal family members."

al-Awlaki

Scott Shane, NYT, An Al Qaeda Martyr’s Enduring Pitch, 18 Sep 2016 "On Sept. 30, it will be five years since the C.I.A. drone strike in Yemen that killed Mr. Awlaki, the first United States citizen executed without trial on orders of a president since the Civil War. But the Hellfire missile that ended his life promoted him to martyrdom in the eyes of his fans, and his influence has turned up in terrorism case after terrorism case. His videos, forecasting a West in which Muslims would increasingly be denigrated, marginalized and threatened with expulsion or worse, have been viewed by hundreds of thousands."

Sunni-Shia: Islam Divided (radio programme)

BBC Radio 4, Sunni-Shia: Islam Divided "In the first of two programmes explaining the Sunni-Shia divide past and present, Tarek Osman tells the epic story of how Islam split after the death of the Prophet Mohammed."

Behind Boko Haram's Split: A Leader Too Radical for Islamic State

Yaroslav Trofimov, WSJ, Behind Boko Haram's Split: A Leader Too Radical for Islamic State "The self-proclaimed caliphate’s biggest and deadliest franchise outside the Middle East, the “West Africa Province” also known as Boko Haram, fractured in recent weeks over Islamic State’s decision to replace its notorious leader, Abubakar Shekau."

Headscarf emoji proposed by 15-year-old Saudi girl

BBC News, Headscarf emoji proposed by 15-year-old Saudi girl "Rayouf Alhumedhi, 15, has sent a proposal to The Unicode Consortium, a non-profit corporation that reviews and develops new emojis."

Activism, Advocacy, and Scholarship on Islam in the Digital Realm

drkristianpetersen.com, Activism, Advocacy, and Scholarship on Islam in the Digital Realm info on forthcoming event organised by the Mizan project (Institute for the Study of Muslim Societies and Civilizations, BU’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies) entitled Activism, Advocacy, and Scholarship on Islam in the Digital Realm: Prospects, Progress, and Challenges, 17-17 Sept. Trying to find more details ...

Did jihadist Rashid Kassim lure French youths to plot attacks?

BBC News, Did jihadist Rashid Kassim lure French youths to plot attacks? "Also known as Ibn Qassim, his focus is recruiting young French would-be jihadists, And he is said to use social media and chat groups, particularly Telegram. He urges his 300 followers to carry out what prosecutors have termed "terrorisme de proximite" (local terrorism)."

A Prayer for Mecca: the city that many hajj pilgrims don't see

From The Guardian, A Prayer for Mecca: the city that many hajj pilgrims don't see – video "As the hajj begins once again, Saudi artist Ahmed Mater has revealed unprecedented changes to the holy city – from flashy new hotels to the loss of priceless neighbourhoods. In the third episode of Crossing the Line, our series connecting the US and Middle East, he takes us inside Islam’s urban heart"

Jihadists urge unity on 15th anniversary of terrorist attacks

VOA News, Jihadists urge unity on 15th anniversary of terrorist attacks "The jihadists used social platforms such as Telegram, Twitter and Google Plus to exchange their celebratory messages and share the anti-Western propaganda on this day. They circulated decorated images of the burning World Trade Center in New York, calling the anniversary an “Eid of happiness.”"

New Tricks Make ISIS, Once Easily Tracked, a Sophisticated Opponent

wsj, New Tricks Make ISIS, Once Easily Tracked, a Sophisticated Opponent, 11 Sep 2016 "The extremist group’s communications, once commonly conducted on phones and social media accounts easily tracked by authorities, have evolved into a mix of encrypted chat-app messages over WhatsApp and Telegram, face-to-face meetings, written notes, stretches of silence and misdirection."

Iran Introduces Halal Internet

The Media Line, Iran Introduces Halal Internet "“The network is basically a government effort to create a nationally controlled internet,” Sanam Vakil, an associate fellow at Chatham House, an international affairs think tank, in London, told The Media Line. “Iran is a state that has heavy internet censorship so a national internet would be a way to provide increased government control.”"

British spooks delete 1,000 extremist videos weekly

RT.com, British spooks delete 1,000 extremist videos weekly – still can’t keep up with propagandists

Smart Udhiyah Goes Online In Dubai

aboutislam.net, Smart Udhiyah Goes Online In Dubai

"In a bid to avoid long lines before `Eid Al-Adha, the Dubai Municipality has launched a smart app to provide users a chance to order their Udhiyah online, and be delivered at their doors."  

'Iranians are not Muslims', says Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti

Independent, 'Iranians are not Muslims', says Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti, 7 Sep 2016 widely reported: "Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah Al ash-Sheikh was responding to Iran's supreme leader, who denounced Saudi Arabia's handling of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca."

US, Private Sector Join Forces in Anti-IS Social Media Project

VOA, US, Private Sector Join Forces in Anti-IS Social Media Project "One of the Obama administration's latest approaches, initiated by an affiliate of Google, seeks to disrupt IS online recruiting efforts by targeted advertising algorithms and the use of YouTube's video platform to dissuade people from enlisting with IS." Also see Wired, Google’s Clever Plan to Stop Aspiring ISIS Recruits

How Google aims to disrupt the Islamic State propaganda machine

CSM/Yahoo, How Google aims to disrupt the Islamic State propaganda machine, 7 Sep 2016 "The internet is one of the most valuable tools for the Islamic State to spread its vision of radical Islam and lure recruits to the battlefields in Iraq and Syria. But the world's most powerful search engine is taking steps that could soon blunt the group's online propaganda machine."

'How Iran Conned the Internet Into Believing a Fake ISIS Story' [opinion]

Daily Beast, How Iran Conned the Internet Into Believing a Fake ISIS Story, 7 Sep 2016 "The Islamic Republic’s propaganda organ spread a false story about women’s dress code in Mosul, Iraq. Yet many news outlets believed it."

Libya: Sirte

RT.com, RT visits sites of ISIS executions in area freshly liberated by pro-govt Libyan fighters (EXCLUSIVE) " Reporting from the front line, RT’s William Whiteman tracked signs left by Islamic State’s long grip on the city of Sirte in Libya. A mosque from a propaganda video and a shore where a mass execution occurred now serve as eerie reminders of atrocities."

Who wanted to help the Islamic State?

Washington Post, Who wanted to help the Islamic State? A gamer, a cop, a cabdriver, prosecutors say

Anjem Choudary

Telegraph, How Anjem Choudary swore allegiance to Islamic State after curry house meeting Also see Mail Online, Hypocrite of hate! Extremist preacher Anjem Choudary abandons his anti-West rhetoric as he eats at non-halal McDonald's while on bail for the terror offences that will today see him jailed

British Florist's Picture Used In IS Magazine

Sky News, British Florist's Picture Used In IS Magazine "A florist has described his shock after being featured in an Islamic State propaganda magazine which calls on jihadis to "strike terror into the heart of disbelievers"."

Meet Generation M: the young, affluent Muslims changing the world

Harriet Sherwood, Guardian, Meet Generation M: the young, affluent Muslims changing the world, 3 Sep 2016 based around Shelina Janmohamed's new book (previously blogged) "Generation M are the Muslim millennials, the global generation born in the past 30 years, but with a twist. Unlike their Christian counterparts in the US and western Europe, most of whom are turning their backs on organised religion, Generation M has “one over-riding characteristic, which is that they believe that being faithful and living a modern life go hand in hand, and there is absolutely no contradiction between the two,” says Janmohamed."

Queen Rania of Jordan: World's most influential online royal turns 46

IB Times, Queen Rania of Jordan: World's most influential online royal turns 46 "The mother-of-four, who is married to Abdullah bin al-Hussein, the King of Jordan, stays connected to the people and fans from all over the world with the internet, becoming one of the most contemporary and innovative royals of her time."

Iran Net Update

IRNA, Iran to launch its first ever national data network on Sunday: Minister "Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi said Iran is going to launch the first phase of its National Data Network on Sunday."



BBC News, Iran rolls out domestic internet, 29 Aug 2016 "The government says the goal is to create an isolated domestic intranet that can be used to promote Islamic content and raise digital awareness among the public."



 The Next Web, Iran’s one step closer to launching its own internal Internet  "It’s expected that this network will over 60 times faster than the current Internet infrastructure. This is a result of the massive deployment of fiber-optic cables, as well as locally-based data centers."

Abu Muhammad al-Adnani

Robin Wright, The New Yorker, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, the Voice of ISIS, Is Dead, 30 August 2016 "Hassan Hassan, the author of the Times best-seller “ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror,” described Adnani as one of a small handful of leaders left from among the organization’s founding fathers. “This means that the transition to the second and third tiers of the group is already well under way. And this could affect the direction of the organization and how it operates” ... "

Bing translation enrages Saudis

The Register, Microsoft redfaced after Bing translation cockup enrages Saudis also see Daily Mail, Fury as Microsoft Bing translates the Arabic word ‘Daesh’ into English as ‘SAUDI ARABIA’

An extremist’s path to academia -- and fighting terrorism

PBS Newshour, An extremist’s path to academia -- and fighting terrorism "Jesse Curtis Morton begins work as a counterterrorism researcher at George Washington University this fall. But his path to the position was highly unconventional: until 2012, Morton was Younus Abdullah Muhammad, a Muslim extremist who founded a radical Islamist website. His decision to go undercover and assist in counterterrorism efforts while in prison changed his trajectory profoundly."

ISIS in New Zealand inevitable

Stuff, ISIS in New Zealand inevitable

'Average man takes on IS online'

The Australian, Average man takes on IS online "Mohamed Amin Ahmed manages a gas station in Minneapolis. He is a father to four children, all under the age of 8. And in his spare time, he fights back against Islamic State propaganda he believes is poisoning his local community."

Malaysia: Terrorists are the ‘worst of creation’

The Star Online, Terrorists are the ‘worst of creation’, 21 Aug 2016 "IT exasperates Umno Youth exco Datuk Dr Fathul Bari Mat Jahya that the IS extremists and militants who are butchering and beheading people, have the audacity to proclaim themselves Salafists."

Liberté, Egalité, Burkini?

BBC News, Liberté, Egalité, Burkini? "While some people in France have seen the controversial Burkini ban as a defence of female freedom and French values, others, both there and across the Arab world, have expressed the view that, it is an attack not only on women penalised by the restrictions, but also on Muslims in general." Good summary by BBC Trending.

New and noted: Millennial Muslim Identities in the Contemporary United States

"Muslim, Period. American, Period": Millennial Muslim Identities in the Contemporary United States, Ledaman Bliss Zakarison, Whitman College [dissertation]

#Malaysia: Growing intolerance of LGBTIQ community due to Islamisation, forum told

themalaymailonline.com, Growing intolerance of LGBTIQ community due to Islamisation, forum told " Social activist Azrul Mohd Khalib added that those from the LGBTIQ minority group are facing increased persecution on a daily basis as Islamic teachings in Malaysia were against sexual orientations that differed from the heterosexual norms." Opinion

#Malaysia: Research outfit starts online ‘pondok’ to counter radicalism

themalaymailonline.com, Research outfit starts online ‘pondok’ to counter radicalism (VIDEO), 18 August 2016

"IMAN Research said that in the interviews they conducted across the
peninsula with Muslim youths from various backgrounds, interviewees in
Kedah were “extremely reluctant” to denounce IS, while those in Selangor
were hesitant to challenge verses or scholars that propagate violence,
even if they disagreed with the terrorist group’s level of violence."

Anjem Choudary and prison radicalisation

Standard, Hate preacher's followers still posting extremist videos on YouTube Interesting original report in the Times over the weekend. I have posted this link, as the Times has a paywall online (I bought the newspaper!).

Also see related coverage/opinion pieces:

Mail Online, The face of hatred unveiled: Wife of jailed Anjem Choudary is clearly identified for the first time as she vows non-Muslims in Britain will be destroyed

Express, 'Belmarsh HERO' Hate preacher Anjem Choudary ‘raising an army of extremists’ behind bars [the emphasis is from the Express]

BBC News, Prison extremists to be put in special units in jails

Raffaello Pantucci, Telegraph, It's cruel, but isolation is the only way to deal with prisoners like Anjem Choudary

Putting Islam centre stage in the digital age

Gulf News, Putting Islam centre stage in the digital age Profile of Peter Gould: "“When someone asks me today what is Islamic art, I say our art has very deep, sacred roots but it could also be that kid on the street in Jakarta with a spray can, it could be a guy in San Francisco making an app showing you how to pray and where to pray. It [faith] has to influence and inspire all of these decisions we are making every day, and that’s when you get beautiful things. Your faith can and should have influence in what is being created around the world today.”

Twitter suspends almost 250,000 accounts with 'terror' links

middleeasteye.net, Twitter suspends almost 250,000 accounts with 'terror' links "Twitter has suspended 235,000 accounts believed to have links to militant groups like the Islamic State, the company said."

Twitter users take down French politician who told Muslims to be 'discreet

Middle East Eye, Twitter users take down French politician who told Muslims to be 'discreet

Going undercover against extremism

BBC News, Going undercover against extremism, 18 Aug 2016 "A long-running undercover police operation in the Bedfordshire town of Luton, which has contributed evidence to two recent counter-terrorism trials, helped build up an incredibly detailed picture of the depths of loathing for Britain felt by the men at the heart of the investigation."

Wayback Machine Won’t Censor Archive for Taste, Director Says After Olympics Article Scrubbed

USA News, Wayback Machine Won’t Censor Archive for Taste, Director Says After Olympics Article Scrubbed

ISIS militants shut down internet, confiscate satellite devises in Syria's al-Bab

ARA News, ISIS militants shut down internet, confiscate satellite devises in Syria's al-Bab "Radical group of the Islamic State (ISIS) has shut down the internet network in the city of al-Bab in Syria’s northern Aleppo province, local sources reported on Wednesday."

ISIS fighters using impenetrable encrypted messaging to carry out attacks: UN experts

indianexpress.com, ISIS fighters using impenetrable encrypted messaging to carry out attacks: UN experts

Kedah to produce videos on dangers of IS’ deviant Islamic teachings

themalaymailonline.com, Kedah to produce videos on dangers of IS’ deviant Islamic teachings

Tunisia: women in hip hop

Middle East Eye, Women in hip hop: Making space for Tunisia’s unseen queens "In Tunisia, female hip hop artists are breaking away from societal norms and bringing a new twist to Tunisian hip hop culture."

FSB busts internet ring recruiting terrorists for ISIS

RT, FSB busts internet ring recruiting terrorists for ISIS, 11 Aug 2016 " Russia’s Federal Security Service has uncovered and closed an internet community recruiting fighters for Islamic State and propagating terrorism on the web. It also seized weapons and explosives from the suspects during searches in three Russian regions."

Anjem Choudary

Dominic Casciani, BBC News, How Anjem Choudary's mouth was finally shut "For 20 years Anjem Choudary stood on street corners, in shopping precincts, outside mosques, embassies and police stations and used his megaphone to drive a wedge between Muslims and the rest of Britain. Now he has been convicted of inviting others to support the Islamic State militant group."

 Mail Online, Fanatic's web of hatred: From 7/7 bombers to Lee Rigby's killers, how vile preacher's network of radical connections was like a who's who of Islamic terrorism - with links to 15 plots and 500 jihadis

Daily Mirror, Anjem Choudary's 'perfect Sharia Britain' included no queues, tax or air stewardesses...and instructions on biscuit-making

BBC News, Anjem Choudary case raises terror law questions

Miqdaad Versi, Independent, Anjem Choudary inspired terrorists around the world – and the media shares some of the blame [opinion piece]

Leaked Isis documents reveal recruits have poor grasp of Islamic faith

Independent, Leaked Isis documents reveal recruits have poor grasp of Islamic faith, 16 Aug 2016 "An AP analysis of thousands of leaked Isis documents reveals most of its recruits from its earliest days came with only the most basic knowledge of Islam. A little more than 3,000 of these documents included the recruit's knowledge of Sharia, the system that interprets into law verses from the Quran and "hadith" — the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad."

New and Noted: Inside the Caliphate's Classroom: Textbooks

Jacob Olidort, Inside the Caliphate's Classroom: Textbooks, Guidance Literature, and Indoctrination Methods of the Islamic State "Two years after the declaration of a caliphate by the Islamic State, the world has become well acquainted with the group's brutality, territorial expansion, apocalyptic narrative, and ability to stage large-scale terrorist attacks inside and outside the Middle East. Less discussed are IS textbooks and book-publishing activities. Our knowledge of the group's ambitions and ideas are based on texts leading up to the group's declaration of a caliphate, social media communications (in particular its English-language propaganda magazine, Dabiq, and videos), interviews with defectors, and leaked bureaucratic documents. Yet, to date, no systematic survey has been conducted of the Arabic-language books the group has published since June 2014." Available as a PDF

IS Apps

ISIS On The Internet: 7 Apps The Islamic State Group Uses For Recruitment, News And More, 10 Aug 2016

How to keep Facebook, Twitter from being terrorists’ hunting grounds

Computer World, How to keep Facebook, Twitter from being terrorists’ hunting grounds " Rand's Boudine-Baron, who has been researching terrorists and their social media activities since 2014, said that while the account suspension campaigns reduce the ease with which people can stumble on to terrorist content and outreach, there needs to be a bigger presence in "counter messaging.""

Father Jacques Hamel

Reuters/The Star, France buries priest slayed by Islamic militants "Mourners crammed into Rouen Cathedral on Tuesday for the funeral of the Roman Catholic priest knifed to death at his church altar, as France's political leaders sought ways to defeat home-grown Islamist violence.
"Father Jacques Hamel was leading morning mass in the nearby industrial town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray last Tuesday when the attackers stormed in, forced the 85-year-old to his knees and slit his throat while chanting in Arabic."

'War of Keywords'

Guardian, Search engines' role in radicalisation must be challenged, finds study, 28 July 2016 "The study, undertaken jointly by Digitalis and the Centre on Religion and Geopolitics, will be challenged by those who claim it advocates censorship, has blurred the lines between political Islam and violent extremism and cannot validly quantify the presence of extremism." PDF 'War of Keywords' here

Bastille terrorist's elderly gay lover said he asked how to hire truck

Mail Online, Bastille terrorist's elderly gay lover said he asked how to hire truck "The 73-year-old, who has been identified by detectives as the killer's 'principal lover' said the married Tunisian truck terrorist showed him ISIS beheading videos on his laptop as he became radicalised."

Saint-Etienne-de-Rouvray

dailymail.co.uk, ISIS killer 'found accomplice online' despite being on terror list "Adel Kermiche, 19, was revealed by relations to have had several accounts on the social networking site with which he spread jihadi propaganda from his home near Rouen."

IS Germany

Europe Online, Islamic State bomber in Germany had «direct contact» with accomplice, 27 July 2016

Another man arrested in Brazil on terrorism charges ahead of Olympics

SCMP, Another man arrested in Brazil on terrorism charges ahead of Olympics

Muslim man deals with an internet troll in the classiest way ever

mashable.com, Muslim man deals with an internet troll in the classiest way ever, 27 July 2016 "It's easy to get angry at someone who's trying to troll you, but a Muslim man has the perfect example of how to deal with one." 

21st Century Halal

I gave a couple of lectures today on '21st Century Halal: Contemporary Approaches to Food and Drink', as part of the UWTSD Humanities Summer School ‪#‎HumSum16‬ on UWTSD Lampeter campus. This presentation was actually part of an ongoing project on halal issues, that I'm putting together at present. I started blogging intermittently on this at  http://21stcenturyhalal.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Terrorism and Social Media conference

TASM, Terrorism & Social Media Conference CFP to be held at Swansea University next year.

New & Noted: Political Islam and Global Media

This looks interesting, although I haven't seen a copy yet:

Political Islam and Global Media: The boundaries of religious identity, Edited by Noha Mellor, Khalil Rinnawi (Routledge)

Table of contents is as follows:

Introduction – Noha Mellor Part I: The Rise of Political Islam 1 Legitimate Singularities – Ratiba Hadj-Moussa  & Samar Ben Romdhane 2 Social Media as the New identity Battleground – Noureddine Miladi 3 Online Aesthetics of Martyrdome – Magdalena Karolak 4 ISIS and Saudi Arabia – Andrew Hammond 4 Friday Khutba Without Borders – Ehab Galal Part II: Religious Activism 5 The Online Response to the Quran Burning Incidents – Ahmed Rawi 6 Working Around the State – Deborah L. Wheeler 7 Religious Minorities in Cyberspace – Dalia Yousef & Rasha Abdulla 8 British Arab Youth – Khalil Al-Agha 9 The Revival of Muslim Identity versus Arab Identity – Khalil Rinnawi Part III: Mediated Islamic Practices 10 The new Saudi Nationalism of the New Saudi Media – Gilbert Ramsay  & Sumayah Fatani 11 What is Happening: The Dynamics of the Saudi Twitterverse – Mohammad Ibrahrine 12 The Neo-Liberal Islamic Preachers – Nermeen Alazrak & Alamira Samah Saleh 13 Fatwas Online – Roxanne D. Marcotte 14 How Islamic is Islam Online Counselling? – Mona Abdel Fadil 15 Islam in the News – Mohammed-Ali Abunajela & Noha Mellor 

Some familiar names and themes there - so I look forward to reading this in due course.

Attacks in Germany

NYT, German Mood Is Shaken as Attacks Show Vulnerability to ISIS

CNN, Multiple attacks leave Germans on edge

Saint-Etienne-de-Rouvray (updated)

middleeasteye.net, Leading French media refuses to publish photos of church attackers "French daily, Le Monde, made a statement saying that it would not publish photos of the church attackers in a bit to avoid feeding the cult of the dead and encouraging further attacks."

 BBC News, France church attack: Prayer, solidarity and Christian imagery on social media

 Express, 'Any little gangster or nihilist' is using ISIS as an excuse KILL, says terror expert "Bernard Henri-Levy, a leading French philosopher, said the terror group had become an excuse for "psychopaths and fascists" to commit evil." opinion

ITV News, Live updates: French priest killer 'was on probation'

Standard, France priest killer Adel Kermiche told judges: 'I'm not an extremist' before he was freed  

Daily Mail, Dramatic moment marksmen shoot ISIS jihadists who killed French priest before rescuing terrified nuns who the fanatics had used as human shields

Saudis welcome Family Affairs Council

Saudis welcome Family Affairs Council - Saudi Gazette "The information revolution has also had an impact on society. In 2016, Saudi Arabia had 24.2 million Internet users. This figure is projected to grow to 27.9 million Internet users in 2021. The total number of mobile subscriptions reached around 51 million by the end of Q1 2016, with penetration rate of 160.6%, according to a report by the Communication and Information Technology Commission." Report discusses impact on family values.

When terror goes viral it's up to us to prevent chaos (Opinion)

Brian McNair, The Conversation, CNN, When terror goes viral it's up to us to prevent chaos (Opinion) "This media environment sees isolated events which would once have been of mainly local importance, such as the Lindt Café siege in Sydney (a "lone wolf" terrorist attack in which two people were killed), become global in their impacts through the immediacy and visceral nature of their media coverage. But it is also an efficient way to disseminate anxiety, panic and fear."

Qandeel Baloch

PBS, Pakistani social media icon's brother arrested in her death "With posts that defied conservative social norms, Baloch drew support from those that viewed her as an advocate for women’s rights. She spoke openly about the expectations she faced as a woman, discussing issues such arranged marriage in interviews with Pakistani media." Also see NYT, In Death, Qandeel Baloch, Pakistani Social Media Star, Is Celebrated as a Feminist Hero, 19 Jul 2016

Nice 14 July 2016

Summary of coverage, specific to central themes of this blog (updated):

France 24, Truck attack in Nice: what we know so far

NYT, A Third of Nice Truck Attack’s Dead Were Muslim, Group Says

Europe 1, Attentat à Nice : où en est l'enquête ?

Independent,  Nice terror attack: Isis claims responsibility for lorry massacre in French coastal city

USA Today, Paris prosecutor: Nice attacker searched online for Islamic State "Searches of Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel's computer and phone showed online searches related to the Islamic State, other jihadi groups and violent images ...

"Bouhlel's uncle told the Associated Press his nephew was indoctrinated about two weeks ago by an Algerian member of the Islamic State in Nice, a claim French investigators say they are not able to confirm. His apparent radicalization has puzzled investigators as well as friends and family."

lanouvellerepublique.fr, Lahouaiej Bouhlel, dragueur impénitent et ultraviolent à l'intérêt récent pour le jihadisme 

Telegraph, Nice attacker 'had planned truck rampage for nearly a year', 21 Jul 2016  





 

BRISMES 2016: 'Networks: Connecting the Middle East through Times, Space and Cyberspace'

I am currently at the BRISMES 2016 Conference, which is being hosted in Lampeter. There's a wide range of papers, on the themes associated with 'Networks: Connecting the Middle East through Times, Space and Cyberspace'. I'm giving a paper, along with some of my postgrads.

The programme can be found here.

Updates: @OfficialBrismes, @garybunt, and religionTSD on Facebook

The Iraq Inquiry

Plenty of coverage for this. Here are some useful links: Guardian, Chilcot report live: Blair exaggerated Iraq threat and ignored invasion warnings



Middle East Eye, LIVE BLOG: Chilcot inquiry as it happens



The Iraq Inquiry, 6 July 2016 links to all sections of the Report.  The Executive Summary is here

KSA residents ‘spend quarter of the day on social media’

Arab News, KSA residents ‘spend quarter of the day on social media’ "The findings, captured among over 4,000 residents in Saudi Arabia, revealed that the time spent on social media varies depending on age group. Young users (aged 18-35) spend from two to six hours per day, while older users (aged 36-55) spend 30 minutes to two hours per day."

Fashion

stuff.co.nz, If you've got it, don't flaunt it



Haaretz, Hijabs and Swim-skirts: Modest-fashion Sites Unite Jews, Muslims and Mormons

Abu Hamzah, the face of terror, is unmasked

themalaymailonline.com, Abu Hamzah, the face of terror, is unmasked " His folly proved to be when he went live over the Internet boasting his plans to launch attacks in Malaysia early this year, and now he has shown his dastardly true colours when executing the Movida attack from behind the scenes, from Syria ...

" ... Muhammad revealed that he himself had been recruited on Facebook, which had helped him to get to Syria."

Despite recent attacks, ISIS still losing social media war

globalnews.ca, Despite recent attacks, ISIS still losing social media war opinion piece "Alberto Fernandez, a former U.S. State Department official and vice-president of the Middle East Media Research Institute, believes ISIS’s most prolific days of spreading online propaganda are in the past."

Video: How eight French citizens gave up everything for IS group

Video: How eight French citizens gave up everything for IS group - France 24 "In this programme we look at what used to be a group of friends from the eastern French city of Vesoul. All of them were middle-class French citizens, aged between 20 and 30, who converted to Islam in a short space of time. They found the hardcore and sectarian views they wanted to hear in Islamic State group propaganda videos on the Internet. They soon swapped their peaceful life in France for the Syrian civil war, joining the ranks of the Islamic State group. FRANCE 24 takes a closer look."

Abim: Monitor family members' online activities for any links to IS

malaysiakini.com, Abim: Monitor family members' online activities for any links to IS "Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) has urged parents to brush up on their technological prowess so they can better monitor their children's activities online for any links to the Islamic State (IS)."

IS declares war on Malaysia and Indonesia

IS declares war on Malaysia and Indonesia - Nation | The Star Online "The man is wagging his right index finger back and forth, and talks in a mix of Bahasa Malaysia and what sounded like Arabic."

How the Islamic State Lures Women Over the Internet

The Politic, Who ISIS Really Wants: How the Islamic State Lures Women Over the Internet | "Most women who choose to join ISIS or other jihadist groups are the victims of aggressive and deliberate propaganda campaigns."

Islamic State launches first successful attack in Malaysia

CNN, Islamic State launches first successful attack in Malaysia "Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar told CNN that a grenade attack on June 28 at a nightspot near Kuala Lumpur, the country's capital, was carried out on the orders of a Malaysian Islamic State fighter in Syria, Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi."

Baghdad attack

Washington Post, The worst ISIS attack in days is the one the world probably cares least about

BBC, Iraq suicide bomb attack: Deaths in Baghdad rise to 165

"The number of people killed in Sunday's suicide bomb attack in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has risen to 165, interior ministry officials say."

Also see #Baghdad

Here's a report from Channel 4 News:

Heartbreak, selfies and soccer: the life of a Bangladesh cafe killer

Reuters India, Heartbreak, selfies and soccer: the life of a Bangladesh cafe killer highlights the role of social media in 'radicalising' instigators of the attack in Bangladesh. "As investigators gather details about the militants, a profile is emerging of a band of educated youths from privileged backgrounds who had turned to radical Islamism only recently."

Muslim Match dating website hacked

BBC News, Muslim Match dating website hacked, 4 July 2016 "The personal details of more than 150,000 members of dating website Muslim Match have been posted online."

Jihadi 'bride-maker' is student from London

Daily Mail, Jihadi 'bride-maker' is student from London "Through her prolific output on social media, she commands a powerful influence on her following of largely young girls as she ‘grooms’ them, urging them, as she has done, to travel to Syria and marry bloodthirsty IS killers."

There is hope in the fight against Isis in the history of Islam

Robert Fisk, Independent, There is hope in the fight against Isis in the history of Islam, 30 June 2016 "Every 100 years in Islamic history, [Tarif] Khalidi observed, a renewer of faith – a mujaddid – would arise to breathe new life into the religion. The two “great wings” of Islam began their careers as reform movements, the Sunnis emphasising the importance of the unity of the community, the Shias emphasising the integrity of government, each splintering of these wings a form of reconstruction which now appear “like two great trees with numerous branches”."

'Hajbit'

DailyMail, Pilgrims to Hajj to be given bracelets containing personal information "The bracelets are water resistant, connected to a GPS location system, and store each pilgrim's personal information including address and medical records, the Arab News and Saudi Gazette reported."Also see Arab News, 
E-bracelets a 'must' for pilgrims this Haj, 30 June 2016 and aljazeera.com, Hajj 2016: Saudi Arabia introduces bracelets for safety. It sounds like a good idea...

Muslim women face threats online

religionnews.com, Muslim women face threats online, 28 June 2016 "Muslim women like [Laila] Alawa have worked to create a vibrant space for themselves in the online world. But increasingly, many groups — from Islamophobes to conservative Muslims to feminists — are using social media’s anonymity and lack of accountability to pry that from them." Well-worth reading.

Online Fight Against Islamic State Makes Gains, U.S. Envoy Says

bloomberg.com, Online Fight Against Islamic State Makes Gains, U.S. Envoy Says, 28 June 2016 "[Brett] McGurk said he visited the year-old Sawab Center in the United Arab Emirates where "Muslims from the U.A.E. and the area who want to fight” Islamic State work around the clock. He said he met “smart, engaged, dynamic, incredible young people” at the center, which the State Department has described as “the first-ever multinational online messaging and engagement program” to counter terrorist propaganda."

Screenshot from @sawabcenter

Omar Mateen Enrolled In Online Website For Islam Lessons Run By Anti-Gay Imam

CBS News, Omar Mateen Enrolled In Online Website For Islam Lessons Run By Anti-Gay Imam, 23 June 2016 "The Orlando nightclub gunman enrolled in an online website for lessons on Islam that was run by an imam who openly preached against the gay community, sources said.



"A law enforcement source told CBS News that Omar Mateen, who killed 49 people at the gay nightclub Pulse, enrolled online in Fundamental Islamic Knowledge Seminary."

Malaysia approaches fintech with Islamic twist

Computer Weekly, Malaysia approaches fintech with Islamic twist, 28 June 2016 "Malaysia is adapting to the financial technology (fintech) revolution by adjusting its financial regulatory guidelines with an Islamic angle."

iMulla: Tatarstan citizens were offered to invite imam by one click

realnoevremya.com, iMulla: Tatarstan citizens were offered to invite imam by one click, 29 June 2016 online access for Tatarstan imams discussed here: "In general, iMulla is very simple to use. On the home page of the website there are two big buttons — 'Invite a mullah' and 'Find a mullah'. Clicking on the 'Find a mullah', we found a list of 21 profiles, where it is specified what rites and where they are ready to hold them, their work schedule, age, place of work and place of study, additional data. In the case if a user decides to invite a mullah, he or she can order a call or fill in the form on the website with information about themselves, the rite they want, place and time of the meeting. If a person does not know whom to choose, the system can do it for him. The majority of profiles belongs to the Moscow clergy, and the project is mostly focused on the Muscovites yet."

Global terror database World-Check leaked

The Register, Global terror database World-Check leaked, 29 June 2016 "The mid-2014 version of the database contains some 2.2 million records and is used by 49 of the world's 50 largest banks, along with 300 government and intelligence agencies.



"The Thomson Reuters database is accused of falsely designating citizens and organisations as terrorists. Banks have used this data in whole or in part to shutter accounts, effectively locking people out of vast swathes of the global banking system."

Istanbul Airport Attack

BBC News, Istanbul Ataturk airport attack: 41 dead and more than 230 hurt






vocativ.com, Why ISIS Adherents Aren't Applauding The Istanbul Attack



vocative.com, Turkey Blocks News Sites, Twitter, Facebook After Deadly Attack



Mashable, Reports: Turkish government blocks social media in wake of airport attack

The Sunnah of Muhammad

The Sunnah of Muhammad, Heart and Soul - BBC World Service "Safaa Faisal travels to Egypt to explore how the Sunnah is being fought over by those who think the messages that lie within its pages are being interpreted wrongly. She also explores whether the Sunnah, because of the way it was compiled, can legitimately be called the word of the Prophet and therefore whether it could actually be revised for the modern world." Have yet to hear it all, but the programmes references the impact of social media/search engines on religious authority issues.

Internet #halal shopping

foodmanufacture.co.uk, Halal range launches with 16 lines on Amazon Fresh

CYBERCOM 'reluctant' to cut off Islamic State internet

scmagazine.com, CYBERCOM 'reluctant' to cut off Islamic State internet, 24 June 2016 "Thomas Atkin, the acting assistant Defense Secretary for homeland defense and global security, told press earlier this week that the DOD was wary of treading on the rights of internet users in IS strongholds. He characterised the deliberation over such an action as a “careful balance, even in Raqqa or Mosul, or anywhere on how we balance the rights to have access to the Internet versus the use of the Internet illegally by folks like ISIL”."