Exploring the cycle of imprisonment in the UK through poetry

This was discussed on @bbc5live with Adrian Chiles this morning, and (along with other films in the series) is worth checking out: Aliyah Hasinah Exploring the cycle of imprisonment in the UK through poetry via @c4randomacts

@darkskinnedhijabis

Ikran Dahir, Buzzfeed, This Woman Created An Instagram Page To Empower Dark-Skinned Muslim Women "Liaden said she has experienced colourism first hand. "As a dark black skin Muslim women myself, I know what it feels like to speak up and be ignored," she said."

For Russian ‘Trolls,’ Instagram’s Pictures Can Spread Wider Than Words

NYT, For Russian ‘Trolls,’ Instagram’s Pictures Can Spread Wider Than Words "The photograph in the post, of a smiling woman wearing a black hijab, seems innocent. But the text around it was crafted to push buttons. This is a woman, readers are warned, who hates everything from Jews and Christians to lesbians and wine — yet she “complains about Islamophobia.”"

NY Attacks

WSJ, After New York Attack, Investigators Ask: Should ISIS Material Be Online?

Independent, New York attack: Terror manuals containing instructions for bomb used by Akayed Ullah remain online "Terrorist manuals showing jihadis how to build the same type of bomb used in last week's New York subway attack remain online amid warnings of further attacks."

How Syria's White Helmets became victims of an online propaganda machine

Guardian, How Syria's White Helmets became victims of an online propaganda machine "The Guardian has uncovered how this counter-narrative is propagated online by a network of anti-imperialist activists, conspiracy theorists and trolls with the support of the Russian government (which provides military support to the Syrian regime)."

Research

Currently looking at:  

ERDEM, B.K. and BILGE, R., 2017. The Announcement of Dar al-Harb in Cyber Media in Context of the Theological Policy of Jihad: Reading the Cyber-Jihad and ISIS based on the Pharmakon Characteristic of the Cyber Media. International Journal of Islamic Thought, 11, pp. 17-29.

Middle East gender inequality is ‘corrupting the region’

Olivia Cuthbert, Arab News, Middle East gender inequality is ‘corrupting the region’ "Failure to narrow the gender gap and confront violence against women in the MENA region is stalling progress and exacerbating crises, according to activists."

Former army interpreter released on bail while fighting for right to remain in the UK

Channel 4, Former army interpreter released on bail while fighting for right to remain in the UK

Book review

Reading Religion, The Study of Religious Experience Approaches and Methodologies 

Book review.  I have a chapter in this volume, which was edited by my colleague Bettina Schmidt.

Poland and the far-right

Steve Rose, Faith Matters, The Changing Face of Hate in Poland: From Antisemitism to Anti-Muslim Racism 

 

 

Faith Matters launches a ground-breaking paper looking at worrying levels of far-right anti-Muslim racism in Poland and anti-Muslim activism in the UK in Polish Communities

Yemen - update

Brookings, In Yemen, Iran outsmarts Saudi Arabia again analysis/opinion

An Iraqi teen turns inward to survive the Islamic State

AP/Times of India, An Iraqi teen turns inward to survive the Islamic State, 4 Dec 2017 " Ferah's story and writings offer a glimpse of the day-to-day struggle to survive under IS. The group's takeover of Mosul plunged her into isolation. Her friends fled the city, as did her two eldest sisters, who were married and had their own families. Ferah stopped going to school, afraid of the girls in her class who identified with Daesh."

Unmasked: Anonymous Historian Leaked Islamic State Secrets

VOA News, Unmasked: Anonymous Historian Leaked Islamic State Secrets "His secrets consume him, sap energy he'd rather use for his doctoral dissertation and for helping Mosul rebuild. In conversations with The Associated Press, he agonized over how to end the anonymity that plagues him. He made his decision."

Peaceful Coexistence Conference

Today I participated in the Ethical Approaches to Peaceful Co-Existence conference, organised by UWTSD, Muslim Council Wales - MCW, and the Knowledge Exchange Programme. My presentation was entitled 'Flaming, Trolls and Memes: Digital Dimensions of Co-existence in Cyberspace'.  I referenced my next book 'Hashtag Islam: How Cyber Islamic Environments are Transforming Religious Authority'.  It has been a full programme today. More information on Twitter @garybunt

Facebook says 99% of IS, Al Qaeda content spotted by AI

Bloomberg/African Independent, Facebook says 99% of IS, Al Qaeda content spotted by AI "Facebook’s artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly adept at keeping terrorist content off the social network, the company has said."