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."

Peaceful Coexistence Conference

I will be participating in this event, giving a short panel panel on anti-Muslim rhetoric online. 

Trump Shares Inflammatory Anti-Muslim Videos (updated)

NY Times, Trump Shares Inflammatory Anti-Muslim Videos, and Britain’s Leader Condemns Them "President Trump shared videos supposedly portraying Muslims committing acts of violence on Twitter early Wednesday morning, images that are likely to fuel anti-Islam sentiments popular among the president’s political base in the United States and prompted the office of Britain’s prime minister to issue a statement condemning the tweets."

Also see Talal Ansari, Buzzfeed, Here's Where That False Anti-Muslim Video Trump Retweeted Came From " The video, which depicts an attack by a Dutch teen on another Dutch teen, was first picked up by anti-Muslim activists in May. It has circulated through pro-Trump Twitter accounts, Reddit, Alex Jones' website Prison Planet, and the website of an anti-Muslim crusader — before being retweeted by the president of the United States."

Sky News, Sadiq Khan blasts back at Donald Trump after anti-Muslim video tweets  

Martijn, Lies, reductions and authority – Some background on the hate tweets of @JaydaBF and @realDonaldTrump

BBC News, Trump hits out at UK PM Theresa May after far-right video tweets

Elizabeth Poole, Eva Giraud, Ed de Quincey, Anti-Muslim propaganda on Twitter and the role of the far right

The Taliban's massive social media presence that's being ignored

Austin Bodetti, alaraby, The Taliban's massive social media presence that's being ignored, 22 Nov 2017 "The insurgents have employed social media for more creative purposes, creating Facebook profiles of attractive women to trick Western soldiers into disclosing intelligence. Their affiliates in Pakistan even tried to recruit propagandists for an online magazine through a Facebook page." I have written about this phenomenon in the past, and have something in my next book relating to the Taliban.

Outrage against Saudi Arabia as Israeli blogger posts selfies from Prophet's Mosque in Medina

alaraby, Outrage against Saudi Arabia as Israeli blogger posts selfies from Prophet's Mosque in Medina, 21 Nov 2017 "Images posted by an Israeli blogger inside the Mosque of the Prophet Muhammad in the Muslim holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia sparked outrage across the region this week over what many said was the religious insensitivity and double standards of Saudi authorities."

Hackers Fought ISIS With Porn

Gareth Browne, The Daily Beast, Hackers Fought ISIS With Porn, 21 Nov 2017 "Given the dangers they face, the six people who make up the little group calling itself, with conscious irony, “Daeshgram”—its name melding the Arabic acronym for ISIS and Instagram—are forced to live something resembling double lives." Recommended

New York terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov defended by mother

BBC News, New York terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov defended by mother "The BBC's Will Vernon tracked her down in Uzbekistan, the country that was home to terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov until 2010 when he moved to the US." Excellent report.

Cardiff terror accused's IS search 'was out of curiosity'

BBC News, Cardiff terror accused's IS search 'was out of curiosity', 20 Nov 2017 "A teenager accused of planning a terror attack in Cardiff has claimed he searched online for so-called Islamic State material out of curiosity."

Understanding Islam...With Books

Publishers Weekly, Understanding Islam...With Books includes reference to my next book (out 2018)

IS-related investigation in Minnesota

Star Tribune, Father, hacker and jujitsu instructor among Minnesotans under investigation for ISIS ties Interesting in its discussion on ongoing investigations, which have an online element.

Terrorism, radicalisation and Islam: Michel Wieviorka in conversation with Marc Sageman

The Conversation, Terrorism, radicalisation and Islam: Michel Wieviorka in conversation with Marc Sageman one for the reading list

New report on Russian-speaking Foreign Fighters

Crest Research, New report on Russian-speaking Foreign Fighters "Existing data on Russian-speaking groups and individuals linked to the Islamic State is often inaccurate, according to CREST Researcher Cerwyn Moore and ESRC-funded PhD Student Mark Youngman. They have released a substantive report on Russian-speaking foreign fighters and Islamic State’s influence in the North Caucasus."

Al-Qaeda's revised recruitment strategy for India: Go vernacular, reach larger audience

"Times Now, Al-Qaeda's revised recruitment strategy for India: Go vernacular, reach larger audience, 17 Nov 2017 "In a bid to expand its reach in India and to recruit more followers in the country, the Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent has begun to publish online material in three vernacular languages, namely Tamil, Bengali and Hindi, with speeches and articles by jihadists being translated in these three languages, the Indian Express reported."

"That’s not a Hadith. That’s Tupac."

Rayana Khalaf, Stepfeed, This Muslim sheikh's tweets about frequent questions will crack you up - "That’s not a Hadith. That’s Tupac." "While Muslim clerics and preachers are often thought of as characteristically serious and stern, this Florida-based lecturer is all about humor, especially on social media."

Tweeting the Qur'an

While you might want to ignore some of the inevitable discussion associated with this Reddit post, the graphic is interesting for those of us studying digital Islamic issues. I haven't explored the maths on this. I discuss Twitter and the Qur'an in my next book:

idarwishman, Reddit, 96% of the Quran is now tweetable with the new 280 character limit (inspired by the tweetable Bible graph) [OC], 15 Nov 2017

In ‘Watershed Moment,’ YouTube Blocks Extremist Cleric’s Message

New York Times, In ‘Watershed Moment,’ YouTube Blocks Extremist Cleric’s Message "Now, under growing pressure from governments and counterterrorism advocates, YouTube has drastically reduced its video archive of Mr. Awlaki, an American cleric who remains the leading English-language jihadist recruiter on the internet six years after he was killed by a United States drone strike. Using video fingerprinting technology, YouTube now flags his videos automatically and human reviewers block most of them before anyone sees them, company officials say." Widely available elsewhere, however.

Russian Bot

Metro, Man who shared image of Muslim ‘ignoring Westminster victims’ was a Russian bot

A Muslim YouTuber on the biggest misconception about her sex life

Independent, A Muslim YouTuber on the biggest misconception about her sex life "A London-based vlogger is debunking the myths surrounding Muslim women and dating."

Viral from Java

Afghanistan will not block WhatsApp, Telegram: spokesman

Reuters, Afghanistan will not block WhatsApp, Telegram: spokesman, 6 Nov 2017

SingleMuslim.com: how the Yorkshire dating site transformed Muslim romance

Guardian, SingleMuslim.com: how the Yorkshire dating site transformed Muslim romance "It is one of the biggest dating sites in the world and after 17 years, it has has led to over 50,000 marriages. Last week, it hit the headlines as matchmaker to two terror suspects. Tim Adams meets its founders in Wakefield."

This Is What You Need To Know About The Huge Shake-Up In Saudi Arabia

buzzfeed.com, This Is What You Need To Know About The Huge Shake-Up In Saudi Arabia Authoritative summary of a complex situation.

Opinion and Analysis: Saudi’s ‘Reforms’

Atlantic Council, Saudi’s ‘Reforms’: Interview with Dr. H.A. Hellyer "The Saudi Arabian Crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, recently declared that the kingdom sought a ‘return’ to the ‘moderate Islam’ of pre-1979. The international media understandably paid a great deal of attention—but how significant is this? Martin Chulov, the Guardian’s Middle East Correspondent, asked our non-resident senior fellow, Dr HA Hellyer, some questions about it ..." 

Allegations: 'Facebook Silences Rohingya Reports of Ethnic Cleansing'

Betsy Woodruff, Daily Beast, Exclusive: Facebook Silences Rohingya Reports of Ethnic Cleansing "The social network says it’s committed to helping the world ‘share their stories.’ But when people from Burma’s oppressed minority post, their stories have a habit of disappearing."

#WeNeedToTalk campaign

alaraby, Egypt's #WeNeedToTalk campaign backfires as thousands condemn Sisi's countless human rights violations "Some used the hashtag to highlight the plight of thousands of young leaders detained for mere social and political activism, while others focused on the names of those killed by security forces for no apparent reason." The hashtag #WeNeedToTalk is here

Footage shows New York attack suspect

BBC News, Footage shows New York attack suspect, 31 Oct 2017

Online dating couple 'plotted bombing'

BBC News, Online dating couple 'plotted bombing', 30 Oct 2017 "After meeting on dating site singlemuslim.com, the pair "rapidly formed emotional attachment and a shared ideology", the prosecution said."

ISIL’s Execution Videos

ISIL’s Execution Videos: Audience Segmentation and Terrorist Communication in the Digital Age | Radicalisation Research "This article offers a bottom-up understanding of the media strategy employed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as it relates to the production and dissemination of its hostage execution videos." Journal link here

The couple who put IS at heart of marriage

Dominic Casciani, BBC News, The couple who put IS at heart of marriage, 26 Oct 2017 "Three members of the same family have been convicted for being part of what could have been a major terror attack on the streets of Birmingham. Prosecutors say that at the centre of the plot foiled earlier this year were a husband-and-wife team who put the self-styled Islamic State's cause at the centre of their marriage." Online elements in this case.

Social media brings Pakistan's persecuted women rare justice after the violence

Guardian, Social media brings Pakistan's persecuted women rare justice after the violence "Together, Gill, Ali and Siddiqi represent a growing movement of Pakistani women using the internet to demand justice for the crimes they have suffered. This month, the #MeToo campaign – in which women globally have used social media to condemn sexual harassment and assault – has also trended in Pakistan, with one media commentator noting that, unlike previous popular campaigns against patriarchal violence, the #MeToo movement has gained “alarmingly high traction” in the country." Must-read.

Israel's 'predictive policing' sees online crackdown on Palestinians

alaraby, Israel's 'predictive policing' sees online crackdown on Palestinians "Israeli security agencies are using advanced technology to trawl through Palestinian social media posts to identify and detain users who have not yet committed a crime."

Sawab Center

Washington Times, Muslim-run messaging center wages cyberwar on Islamic State, 19 Oct 2017 "The little-known Sawab Center, which had its origins in Washington but has been run by the UAE government since 2015, also circulates its own intense — and, at times, violent — videos, made by Muslims to scare Muslims away from extremist content and to promote anti-terrorist sentiment online."

‘Halal whiskey’ hoax

Coconuts Jakarta, ‘Halal whiskey’ hoax goes viral after gov’t ends Indonesian Ulema Council’s power to issue halal certifications

This Online Group of Former Islamic Extremists Deradicalizes Jihadists

bloomberg.com, This Online Group of Former Islamic Extremists Deradicalizes Jihadists

IS map

NYT, The Islamic State: From Insurgency to Rogue State and Back interactive map

Libyan activists team up with Al-Azhar to tackle extremism

al-monitor, Libyan activists team up with Al-Azhar to tackle extremism "Not everybody is convinced that Al-Azhar can have a significant influence in Libya. Blogger Mohammad Khalil, 37, noted that Wahhabism, a fanatic and relatively modern interpretation of Islam originating from Saudi Arabia, is propagated far more than the views of Al-Azhar sheikhs. In the last 50 years, Riyadh has invested at least $86 billion in spreading Wahhabism worldwide, according to a study released in July by the Henry Jackson Society, a British think tank."

All eyes on delayed ISIS magazine and how militants will pitch Raqqa defeat

9news, All eyes on delayed ISIS magazine and how militants will pitch Raqqa defeat, 24 Oct 2017

Terror in France: The Rise of Jihad in the West

Terror in France: The Rise of Jihad in the West | Radicalisation Researcc



Book information

Disarray in the Syrian Jihad is Making Perfect Conditions for an AQ Revival

SITE, Disarray in the Syrian Jihad is Making Perfect Conditions for an AQ Revival, 16 Oct 2017

Online Jihadism workshop

ICSR, ICSR Workshop – Online Jihadism: Beyond The English-Language Literature This ongoing event (concluding today) is being live-tweeted #beyondeng

New and Noted: 'Islam on YouTube'

Al-Rawi, Ahmed, 'Theoretical Framework and Methodology', in Islam on YouTube: Online Debates, Protests, and Extremism, ed. by Ahmed Al-Rawi(London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2017), pp. 7-42. I have yet to view this. Book information is here.

Somalia attack

Chicago Tribune, 'It's a dark day for us': 276 killed in deadliest single attack in Somalia's history

Graphic: @MuslimGirl

Raif Badawi : Dreaming of freedom. A documentary graphic novel.

Radio Canada, Raif Badawi : Dreaming of freedom. A documentary graphic novel.

Sudan's e-Rebels

The New Arab, Austin Bodetti, On the front lines with Sudan's e-Rebels, and the state hackers targeting them, 16 Oct 2017 "A little-known hacker group operating under the name "Electronic Jihad" (sometimes translated from Arabic as "Cyber Jihad") spearheads the Sudanese government's efforts at cyber-warfare in Darfur, the Blue Nile, and the Nuba Mountains, where rebels representing ethnic minorities have been resisting its authority for decades."

Piety and Porn: In Raqqa, the Laptop Secrets of an ISIS Wife

Daily Beast, Piety and Porn: In Raqqa, the Laptop Secrets of an ISIS Wife

French intelligence texts jihadist by mistake, inadvertently warning of surveillance operation

Telegraph, French intelligence texts jihadist by mistake, inadvertently warning of surveillance operation

Networking

MIT Technology Review, How Close Are You Really?, 16 Oct 2017 "A diagram of your social network reveals the strength of your individual relationships, network scientists say."

Family released from Taliban captivity

AP, Joshua Boyle, family leave Pakistan after rescued from Taliban-linked group

How paralysed London cleric uses social media to help families flee Islamic State

Middle East Eye, How paralysed London cleric uses social media to help families flee Islamic State "Once, Hasan Anyabwile was a coup leader in Trinidad and Tobago. Now, based in London, he fights IS using a battered iPad."

Sally Jones was fleeing Raqqa as Isis's capital fell

Guardian, Sally Jones was fleeing Raqqa as Isis's capital fell "During her years with Isis, Jones, dubbed “the white widow”, had become one of the group’s most senior females, given the job of indoctrinating other women, as part of the Anwar al-Awlaki brigades, and sending some on suicide missions. Killing her had been a priority of both US and UK intelligence, which had painstakingly tried to dismantle the group’s external operations capacity which was tasked with carrying out attacks abroad."

Muzbnb

News.com.au, Many Muslims have been rejected from airbnb by potential hosts "Founded by a group of US entrepreneurs based in Washington DC, Muzbnb’s goal is to give Muslim travellers an alternative to Airbnb, where they often face discrimination."

Pakistani Media in the UK, Assignment

Pakistani Media in the UK, Assignment - BBC World Service

Isis supporter jailed for planning to bomb Birmingham train lines

Guardian, Isis supporter jailed for planning to bomb Birmingham train lines, 9 Oct 2017 "Jurors at Birmingham crown court heard that Hussain became radicalised while viewing hundreds of Isis images and videos of the war in Syria."

The driving lesson selfie that enraged some Saudis

BBC News, The driving lesson selfie that enraged some Saudis "Faisal BaDughaish, an analyst in a gas and oil company from Dhahran in the east of Saudi Arabia, tweeted a photo of him with his wife in an empty car park. The tweet read: "I started teaching my wife how to drive in one of the private parking spaces in a safe and legal way, preparing for the law to take effect.""

These Young Black British Muslims Were So Tired Of Being Erased They Made Their Own Web Series

Aisha Gani, buzzfeed, These Young Black British Muslims Were So Tired Of Being Erased They Made Their Own Web Series "In a six-minute preview featuring historian Habeeb Akande and rapper Muneera Williams, black British Muslims discuss their identity. In one candid moment, educator Amira Marius says: “People don’t recognise Islam as a 'black' religion a lot of the times because they don’t have that knowledge and understanding ... so they see it as an adopted religion.""

55% of Brits support racial profiling of Muslims: Arab News/YouGov poll

Arab News, 55% of Brits support racial profiling of Muslims: Arab News/YouGov poll "The majority of Britons agree with racial profiling of Arabs and Muslims, and 69 percent think the UK should take in fewer refugees from Syria and Iraq, an Arab News/YouGov poll has found." Poll details are here. Press release here. PDF of the report is here

KSA cleric banned

Arab News, Senior cleric banned from preaching after insulting women, 23 Sep 2017
" The ban follows Al-Hijri’s claim that when they go shopping, women — who he said only have half a brain to begin with — “end up with only a quarter.” His comments caused uproar on social media."

New and noted: 'European Muslims and New Media'

'European Muslims and New Media', Edited by Merve Kayıkcı and Leen d’Haenens (Leuven University Press, 2017)

Propaganda jailing

Guardian, Slough man jailed for spreading Isis propaganda "Hussain ran two YouTube channels that he used to broadcast extremist material and used WhatsApp and the encrypted messaging app Telegram to send “disturbing” documents advising people to “kill the kuffar [disbelievers] in their own country”."

'The New Netwar: Countering Extremism Online'

BBC News, Warning to UK over jihadist propaganda "Britain is the fifth-biggest audience in the world for extremist content after Turkey, the US, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, Policy Exchange's study said." The link to the think-tank's report (which I have yet to read) is here: Policy Exchange, The New Netwar: Countering Extremism Online

Philippines jihadis

Robert Windrem, NBC News, ISIS Recruits Fighters for the Philippines Instead of Syria " The seven-minute, English-language video, released by the official ISIS media operation late last month, includes messages from several fighters in the Southern Philippines, and scenes from battles with government troops near the city of Marawi, including the pillaging of a Catholic church."

New Saudi policy will ensure clerics fall in line

Hassan Hassan, The National, New Saudi policy will ensure clerics fall in line, 13 Sep 2017 "The clerics – who include Salman Al Odah, Awad Al Qarni and Ali Al Omari, as well as other unconfirmed individuals – are associated with a religious current that dates back to the 1970s, when a broad process of hybridisation between revolutionary Islamist ideas and Salafi teachings led to the birth of a new breed of clerics who portray themselves as reformists. Although products of the trend varied, they tended to be revolutionary. Many of the figures influenced by the trend went on to become jihadis or to directly influence jihadis, while others continued to adhere to peaceful activism."

UAE privacy laws

Khaleej Times, All you need to know about UAE privacy laws, 14 Sep 2017 "Besides, one should be careful while using certain types of emojis while talking online. For example, if one uses the emoji of a 'middle finger' in a conversation and the recipient complaints about the act, it could lead one to jail, fines and deportation."

The Karakaria in Algeria

alarabiya.net, The Karakaria in Algeria: Religious group or ‘foreign conspiracy’? " While the group itself is not new, its emergence in Algeria is. It all started when Musa Belghith, a young Algerian man from the coastal city of Mostaganem, announced on social media that he joined the Karakaria after seeing “the light” and being taught “divine secrets” by his sheikh, in reference to Mohamed Fawzi al-Karkari, the current leader of the group and who resides in the town of Temsamane in Morocco."

British Muslim convert was radicalised by ISIS videos online

Daily Mail, British Muslim convert was radicalised by ISIS videos online "Jurors were told Watson's encrypted chats with undercover agents 'reveal the extent of his hatred for Western society and his avowed intent to take part in terrorist activity'.


"On his phone, police found books including 'The Path to the Land of Battle' by an Al Qaeda figure, '39 Ways to Participate and Serve in Jihad', and copies of the IS magazine Dabiq."

Islam And Hip-Hop

buzzfeed.com, What's The Connection Between Islam And Hip-Hop In America? " So this week on See Something Say Something, Ahmed talks to guests Dr. Su'ad Abdul-Khabeer and artist Salima Rah about the connection between Islam, race, and hip-hop. "

Aussie ISIS bride becomes poster girl for Islamic State terrorists

9News, Aussie ISIS bride becomes poster girl for Islamic State terrorists "Islamic State has paraded an Australian ISIS bride in the latest issue of its online propaganda magazine, featuring the story of how she and her two children secretly sneaked into Syria."

Letters from a Jihadi

Joanne Slater & Colin Freeze, Globe & Mail, Letters from a Jihadi: inside the mind of a Canadian accused of joining al-Qaeda "What drove three students at the University of Manitoba to travel to Pakistan to join al-Qaeda? Newly-released correspondence reveals their state of mind in their own words, including a nine page handwritten letter home."

The Contradictions of Hajj, Through the Lens of a Smartphone

Wajahat Ali, NYT, The Contradictions of Hajj, Through the Lens of a Smartphone, 11 Sep 2017 "Awe-struck by the privilege of participating in this tradition while often agitated by the contradictions that surround it today, I made sense of the experience by sharing it — filtering the pilgrimage through the lens of my smartphone."

Isis defectors

Martin Chulov, Guardian, Hundreds of Isis defectors mass on Syrian border hoping to flee, 12 Sep 2017 "Hundreds of defectors from Islamic State have massed in Syria’s Idlib province, with many planning to cross the nearby Turkish border and find ways back to the Middle East, North Africa and Europe."

Two leading Saudi dissident clerics among 20 arrested: Reports

middleeasteye.net, Two leading Saudi dissident clerics among 20 arrested: Reports

Muslim robot (parody)

parody from Light, Inc. which raises some significant issues

Interactive Qur'an app

Standard, Extreme vetting: Zeena Qureshi on her mission to combat terrorism with an interactive Koran app This relates to the Ananas Koran app, which I have yet to see. According to the Standard: "Currently there are a number of Koran apps with different translations of the text. The Ananas platform, in contrast, will give information on each verse, explaining what different denominations believe, showcasing research and allowing users to search by a theme or word to see every mention of it in the Koran."

You've Got Veil: Millions Of Text Messages Remind Tajiks To Obey New Dress Code

RFEFL, You've Got Veil: Millions Of Text Messages Remind Tajiks To Obey New Dress Code "Private mobile-phone companies in Tajikistan have begun sending out text messages to millions of citizens, reminding them to obey a new law that makes Tajik national clothing obligatory at “traditional” gatherings such as weddings and commemorative ceremonies for the dead."

Egyptian intelligence services extend control over media

RSF, Egyptian intelligence services extend control over media  "Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is worried about the way Egyptian media outlets are being taken over by businessmen linked to the government and intelligence services. The regime’s domination of the media continues to grow and is even affecting pro-government media."

Yemenis show solidarity with little girl orphaned in Saudi air strike by posting one eye shut photos

Independent, Yemenis show solidarity with little girl orphaned in Saudi air strike by posting one eye shut photos "Thousands of Yemenis are uploading photos of themselves with one eye closed and using a hand to open the other eye wider to show solidarity with the plight of a toddler who lost her entire family in an air strike on Sanaa last week."

Aylan Kurdi Death: 2 Years Later, Mediterranean Is Still Deadly

NBC News, Aylan Kurdi Death: 2 Years Later, Mediterranean Is Still Deadly " Two years since a photo of lifeless Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi lying face down on a Turkish beach captured the world's attention, the migration crisis has shifted to the other side of the Mediterranean Sea."

The Caliphate in the Countryside

BBC. Heart & Soul, The Caliphate in the Countryside "Ahmadiyya Muslims are outcasts within their own faith and often persecuted and ostracised across the world. They preach against violent Muslims and criticise extremism. "

Moments in migration

The Observer, Moments in migration: Polaroids from the refugee crisis – in pictures

How IS agent tried to groom a reporter for London attacks

BBC News, How IS agent tried to groom a reporter for London attacks "A BBC investigation has unearthed evidence that Islamic State (IS) agents were trying to recruit people in 2016 for an attack on central London."

Robert Fisk's review of Nickolaos Van Dam's 'Destroying a Nation: The Civil War in Syria'

Robert Fisk, When did protest against the Assad government turn to war in Syria? "Instead of serious political advice, the West, especially the US and their proxy Arab allies in the Gulf, then poured weapons into Syria – enough arms to destroy Syria but not enough to overthrow the regime, as one ex-rebel told me."

Hijabistas

Harmeet Kaur, CNN, Hijabistas: Young Muslim women meld fashion and faith "To Mariam Moufid, another hijabista, being able to choose what she wears is freedom. Showcasing her fashion sense to the more than 630,000 followers on her @hijabmuslim account is a way of staking out her own space."

Apps and Eid

Kaveh Waddell, The Atlantic, How New Technology Is Changing Eid Celebrations, 31 Aug 2017
"The robust Islamic app economy includes a program for ordering up sacrificial livestock." The article includes a contribution from myself.

Eid ul-Ahda

Metro, Eid ul Adha 2017: 18 quotes, wishes, prayers, messages, greetings, photos and poems to share with friends and family includes Instagram pix

Eid Geofilter

Snapchat filter for Eid al-Adha via Suffa-Tul-Islam‏

Mona Haydar

"My music isn't haram. Being judgemental is haram" - @mona_haydar speaks to @Maaiysa #AsianNetwork Also see:

Check out the lyrics here at monahaydar.com.

'Iran Retools Propaganda With Rap Videos'

Thomas Erdbrink, NYT, As ‘Death to America’ Chants Lose Power, Iran Retools Propaganda With Rap Videos, 27 Aug 2017 excellent illustrated article by Thomas Erdbrink, which includes this example from Amir Tataloo:

Instagram death threats

Daily Mail, 'If you value your life keep the f*** out of Islam': Loose Women star Saira Khan receives death threat after posting Instagram bikini picture and telling a Muslim preacher to 'kiss my bottom' "The television presenter, 47, who is Muslim, shared the Instagram photo of herself sunbathing on holiday alongside a caption blasting a female Muslim preacher who decreed it was 'sinful' for Muslim women to pluck their eyebrows. Ms Khan ended the ended the defiant post with the words: 'Here's my response - kiss my [bottom]'."

Barcelona

Daily Mail, Barcelona jihadi suspect tells court the killings sprees were part of a plan for larger terror attacks using explosives "The terror cell behind the vehicle murder sprees in Barcelona and Cambrils last week were planning further attacks using explosives..."

Iran in talks to unblock Twitter, says new minister

AFP/Citizen.co.za, Iran in talks to unblock Twitter, says new minister "Iran’s new communications minister said Tuesday that negotiations were underway with Twitter to unblock the service, which has been banned for years despite being used even by the country’s supreme leader."

'Beware the Women of ISIS: There Are Many, and They May Be More Dangerous Than the Men'

Daily Beast, Beware the Women of ISIS: There Are Many, and They May Be More Dangerous Than the Men "This report from the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism raises frightening questions about women returning from the ‘caliphate’—if they can return at all."

Matchmaking apps

TechCrunch, YC-backed Muzmatch definitely doesn’t want to be Tinder for Muslims

 

 Source: Muzmatch.com

Also see:
 
CBC, Canadian women create ‘offline dating’ service for Muslims looking for love

This discusses Matchbox which has a different approach to these issues.

Charlottesville

During an absence from the blog, I tweeted extensively re Charlottesville. Here's an important summary: NYT, Man Charged After White Nationalist Rally in Charlottesville Ends in Deadly Violence

Barcelona attack - roundup

BBC News, Barcelona attack: Spain terror cell had 120 gas canisters Significant coverage here Program on Extremism, from which the following graphic is sourced .
Also see their report here on Catalonia by Lorenzo Vidino

'Three Musketeers' guilty of planning UK terror plot

BBC, 'Three Musketeers' guilty of planning UK terror plot refers to use of Telegram and impact of online magazines.

KSA Cat Killer Craze

Newsweek, Cat Killer Sparks Internet Craze, Police Investigation in Saudi Arabia

For some Saudi women facing strict male authority and even abuse, there's only one answer: Run

LA Times, For some Saudi women facing strict male authority and even abuse, there's only one answer: Run opinion/analysis, highlighting online campaigns and social media use: "[But] Saudi women are increasingly risking imprisonment to flee, not just within the country, but overseas as well. They are coordinating those efforts with a network of supporters via social media, sometimes arranging marriages, vacations and study-abroad programs as a cover."

Where is my name? Afghan women protest to claim their identities

ABC (Australia), Where is my name? Afghan women protest to claim their identities "A group of Afghan women have launched a social media campaign to protest the country's custom of erasing women's names." See #WhereIsMyName?

New and Noted: 'Women, Gender and Daesh Radicalisation: A Milieu Approach'

Elizabeth Pearson & Emily Winterbotham, Women, Gender and Daesh Radicalisation: A Milieu Approach, RUSI Journal, 1-13, 28 Jul 2017 "In this article, Elizabeth Pearson and Emily Winterbotham explore the role of gender in radicalisation to Daesh (also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS). They discuss possible factors in female radicalisation, and how radicalisation differs between men and women. They find that the gender of the recruit affects the enabling factors, mechanisms and locations relating to radicalisation. The article challenges assertions that the recruitment of young men and women to Daesh follows identical patterns, as well as the narrative of women as innately peaceful, or as actors coerced into joining Daesh, revealing the importance of female empowerment in the group’s appeal."

BILD reporter discloses - This is how ISIS wanted to turn me into a terrorist

Bild, BILD reporter discloses - This is how ISIS wanted to turn me into a terrorist

Radio station shut down after broadcasting 25 hours of lectures by al-Qaeda recruiter

Independent, Radio station shut down after broadcasting 25 hours of lectures by al-Qaeda recruiter "Sheffield-based Iman FM claimed its staff were “not aware of the background” of American hate preacher Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed by a US drone strike in Yemen in 2011."

How this 18-year-old gamer went from neo-Nazi to Muslim to alleged killer

Vice, How this 18-year-old gamer went from neo-Nazi to Muslim to alleged killer "The roommates had, in the parlance of that part of the internet, “edgy” politics. But over the last year, Arthurs had begun to make his online friends uncomfortable. Though he still hung out in the same rooms, his interests had shifted from national socialism to Salafism, an ultraconservative form of Sunni Islam."

U.S. Army sergeant indicted in Hawaii on charges of trying to help Islamic State

Reuters, U.S. Army sergeant indicted in Hawaii on charges of trying to help Islamic State

Hijab Emoji

CNN, Teen behind new hijab emoji: 'I just wanted an emoji of me' "Rayouf Alhumedhi, who now lives in Vienna, proposed the idea last year to The Unicode Consortium, the non-profit corporation that reviews and develops new emojis.

"And she's delighted that Apple accepted it. It was unveiled Monday on World Emoji Day as one of a collection of new emoji characters available on Apple devices later this year."

IS media spin Mosul narrative

Laura Smith, BBC Monitoring, BBC News, IS media spin Mosul narrative "So-called Islamic State (IS) made a success story of its triumphant capture of Mosul in 2014, and it will seek to create one out of the loss of the city to Iraqi forces."

Internet fatwas: Muslims urged to carefully consider online advice

aseantoday.com, Internet fatwas: Muslims urged to carefully consider online advice "The MUI call for more honest and decent internet use comes after heated exchanges during the recent gubernatorial race in Jakarta. It is a good illustration of the rise of digital technology in spreading, and reinforcing, religious messages."

IS India

Ronald Meinardus, Qantara, No Traction "In the international statistics documenting terror attacks inspired or orchestrated by the IS terror militia, India is nowhere to be found. And this despite the fact that owing to its demography and socio-economic conditions, the country with its 180 million Muslims should be fertile ground for foreign-controlled Islamist terrorism." Profile of IS in India

Islamist recruiters in Germany 'go right for young people's hearts'

Deutsche Welle, Islamist recruiters in Germany 'go right for young people's hearts', 7 Jul 2017 "They use the internet to make the first contact, and then comes the offline contact where they meet each other. People who see the appeal of Salafist ideology or jihadist ideology meet with the preachers who are well connected."

How Gazans are dealing with internet crisis

al-monitor.com, How Gazans are dealing with internet crisis "The internet has become the only outlet for Gazans to escape the concerns and problems resulting from the ongoing Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2007."

Mosul: Iraq PM in city to celebrate victory over IS

BBC News, Mosul: Iraq PM in city to celebrate victory over IS

Who are Britain’s jihadists?

BBC News, Who are Britain’s jihadists? "Approximately 850 people from the UK have travelled to support or fight for jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq, say the British authorities."

How an American became the leader of an ISIS cell

CBS News, How an American became the leader of an ISIS cell

IS plot

BBC News, Elton John bomb plotter Haroon Syed jailed for life "He was caught after approaching MI5 officers, who were posing as a fellow extremist, via social media." More detail: Mail Online, Teenager, 19, who plotted a nail bomb attack at Elton John’s 50,000-capacity Hyde Park concert on the anniversary of 9/11 joins his terrorist brother behind bars as he is jailed for life
"He used encrypted messaging app ‘Threema’ in a bid to source machine guns, pistols, suicide vests and bombs to launch an attack in the UK on the scale of the 7 July 2005 London bombings."

Afghanistan's all-girl robotics team banned from entering US - but their robot will be allowed in

Independent, Afghanistan's all-girl robotics team banned from entering US - but their robot will be allowed in

IS 'renewal'

VOA, European Officials: Islamic State 'Renewing Itself' Despite Battlefield Losses, 28 Jun 2017 
"European security officials are increasingly worried that Islamic State's reach will not fade even as the terror group loses its grip on Mosul and Raqqa, the twin capitals of its now-collapsing, self-declared caliphate."

As ISIS Gets Squeezed In Syria And Iraq, It's Using Music As A Weapon

NPR, As ISIS Gets Squeezed In Syria And Iraq, It's Using Music As A Weapon

#BlackOutEid

thefader.com, 5 Black Muslim Women On Why #BlackOutEid Is Important

Gaza and technology

London Review of Books, If Israel were smart; Sara Roy on Gaza, Vol. 39 No. 12, 15 June 2017, pages 19-20

"Gaza has a talented, tech-savvy population; if ever there were peace, an American investor said, ‘Gaza’s internet sector would become another India.’ The number of internet users in Gaza is reportedly equal to that of Tel Aviv, and a small number are already subcontracting for companies in India, Bangladesh and Israel."

Terrorist or Disturbed Loner? The Contentious Politics of a Label

Max Fisher, NYT, Terrorist or Disturbed Loner? The Contentious Politics of a Label "Prime Minister Theresa May called the attack terrorism. But debate has continued, suggesting it is about more than labels, but a suspicion that society grants greater importance to non-Muslim than Muslim victims and to Islamist than far-right or other threats."

Facebook posts 'glorifying' Finsbury Park terror attack reported to Government counter-extremism service

Independent, Facebook posts 'glorifying' Finsbury Park terror attack reported to Government counter-extremism service

Finsbury Park

Coverage of the events surrounding the Finsbury Park attack can be found in my Islam in Britain blog

Tablets

mashable, How tablets are transforming the lives of young refugees in sub-Saharan Africa "The Vodafone Foundation announced its Instant Schools for Africa program on Wednesday—an initiative providing free, unlimited access to online educational materials for young people and teachers. Developed with Learning Equality, a leading nonprofit provider of open-source educational technology, the program launched in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Tanzania."

RamadanHub Ramadan Vlog

A range of materials here, including a vlog.

Qiblafinder

 New and noted:

Google Qiblafinder

Youth vulnerable to online radical ideology: Teo Chee Hean

Straits Times, Youth vulnerable to online radical ideology: Teo Chee Hean

As Isis territory shrinks it will rely more on internet

Maura Conway, irishtimes.com, As Isis territory shrinks it will rely more on internet "Relatively few Isis terrorists, however, have been radicalised solely by online means. Nevertheless, in our hyper-connected world the internet is implicated in almost all contemporary terrorism, whether, for example, as a radicalisation tool or for planning attacks."

Manchester bomber

ITV, Manchester bomber's younger brother says he was radicalised online in Britain "Ahmed Bin Salem, a spokesman for Tripoli's Special Deterrence Force, told Reuters: "Hashem said that he and Salman got the ideology of Daesh (Islamic State) in Manchester in 2015 from the internet and some friends in the UK.

"He added that they used to watch videos and had sympathy for children in Syria and wanted to do something for Daesh to help."

The Internet is changing civil wars

washingtonpost.com, Analysis | The Internet is changing civil wars. Watch out for these five trends. "This new ICT environment may help explain why so many civil wars have broken out in Muslim majority states since 2003 — and why they have been fought by multiple Islamist groups whose goals extend throughout the Muslim world."

Abedi radicalised online

Reuters, Manchester bomber radicalised in Britain in 2015 - Tripoli counter-terrorism force, 8 June 2017

"Salman Abedi's brother Hashem also said he had bought equipment for the attack in Britain, though he did not know where it would be carried out, Ahmed Bin Salem, a spokesman for Tripoli's Special Deterrence Force (Rada), told Reuters.

 ... 

"Hashem said that he and Salman got the ideology of Daesh (Islamic State) in Manchester in 2015 from the internet and some friends in the U.K.," said Bin Salem [Ahmed Bin Salem, a spokesman for Tripoli's Special Deterrence Force]

""He added that they used to watch videos and had sympathy for children in Syria and wanted to do something for Daesh to help.""

The Silicon Valley with a heart: How Beirut's techies are helping Syrian refugees

middleeasteye.net, The Silicon Valley with a heart: How Beirut's techies are helping Syrian refugees "Entrepreneurs and international institutions are adapting new technologies to solve refugee challenges and improve their lives."

Iran attacks: 'IS' hits parliament and Khomeini mausoleum

BBC News, Iran attacks: 'IS' hits parliament and Khomeini mausoleum, 7 June 2017 "IS said it had carried out the attack and later posted a video which showed what it claimed was footage from inside the parliament building.

"A voice is heard saying, in Arabic: "We're not going anywhere. We're staying forever.""

NPR, ISIS Takes Credit For Iran Attacks, Several Deaths Reported 

IRNA, Interior Ministry confirms end of terrorist attacks in Tehran (also see adjacent links to condemnation of the attacks).  "In an apparently coordinated attempt, two terrorist groups attacked mausoleum of the late Imam Khomeini, southern Tehran, and the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) on Wednesday morning, killing 12 people and injuring 42 more."

Google won't remove hate preacher rants

Daily Mail, Google won't remove hate preacher rants as they don't break the rules "The hate preacher’s videos have been watched more than a million times, and won warped comments of approval from viewers, one of whom wrote: ‘Kuffar must [and] will be eliminated’."

Facebook says aims to be 'hostile environment' for terrorists

Reuters, After London attack, Facebook says aims to be 'hostile environment' for terrorists

May and regulation

CNN, Theresa May: Internet must be regulated to prevent terrorism  I agree with the comments of Peter Neumann here: " Peter Neumann, a professor who studies political violence and radicalization at King's College in London, said that blaming social media is "politically convenient but intellectually lazy.""

London attack 3 June 2017

Coverage associated with the London attack on 3 June can be found on my Islam in Britain blog.  Material associated specifically with internet-associated issues is posted here. Please check out my Twitter feed @garybunt, which includes my real-time coverage of links to event.

Qatar situation

The digital element of this current dispute is significant, especially in relation to this blog. A variety of opinions are available:

BBC News, Qatar row: Six countries cut links with Doha

Middle East Eye, Three potential motives behind the spat between Qatar and its Gulf neighbours "It's clear that the hacking of Qatar's news agency last month was a premeditated assault. Here's why it happened - and why now."

 Middle East Eye, Qatar hits back as Saudi, Egypt, UAE cut diplomatic, transport ties "Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain cut their ties with Qatar and expelled the Gulf state from the coalition fighting the war in Yemen, accusing it of supporting terrorism. It opens up the worst rift in years among some of the most powerful states in the Arab world."

Arab News,  Bahrain, KSA, Egypt and UAE cut diplomatic ties with Qatar

Al Jazeera,  Inside Story: What's behind recent media attacks against Qatar?

Terrorism kills more Muslims than anyone else

Independent, Terrorism kills more Muslims than anyone else data and discussion

How the Syrian War Changed How War Crimes Are Documented

Cristina Roca, News Deeply, Long Read: How the Syrian War Changed How War Crimes Are Documented "Seven years of war have transformed Syrian monitoring groups into sophisticated investigation centers. But with few options to hold perpetrators of humanitarian law violations accountable, the number of Syrians supplying evidence of human rights violations is dwindling, along with their hope for justice." Recommended.

Chobi by Omar Souleyman

Currently listening to 'Chobi' by Omar Souleyman, from his new release 'To Syria, With Love'.

Founder Of Islamic State News Agency Reported Killed In U.S. Air Strike

RFE/RL, Founder Of Islamic State News Agency Reported Killed In U.S. Air Strike, 2 June 2017 "The founder of the Islamic State (IS) group's news agency [Baraa Kadek] has been killed with his daughter in an air strike last week in eastern Syria, his brother and Syrian opposition activists say."

Allegations: "Hard-Line Moralist in Indonesia Faces Pornography Charges"

NYT, Hard-Line Moralist in Indonesia Faces Pornography Charges, 30 May 2017 "Many Indonesians have leapt to Mr. Rizieq’s defense online, and posters in Jakarta, the capital, bearing his image call on Muslims to “defend preachers and religion.”"

When Hatred Goes Viral

Larry Greenemeier, Scientific American, When Hatred Goes Viral 
"A key researcher behind PhotoDNA says he is developing software called eGLYPH, which applies PhotoDNA’s basic principles to identify video promoting terrorism—even if the clips have been edited, copied or otherwise altered."

For Many Muslim Women, Ramadan's Celebrations Require a Whole New Wardrobe

Racked, For Many Muslim Women, Ramadan's Celebrations Require a Whole New Wardrobe

'Black Crows'

غَرَابِيبُ سُودٌ

Intense new 20 part series 'Black Crows' for Ramadan viewing on MBC:

 

NPR, New Show 'Black Crows' To Tell Stories Of Life Under ISIS

The National, TV drama Black Crows looks at ISIL threat from a female perspective

ANSA.it, ISIS threatens producers, cast of 'Black Crows' TV show 

Reuters, Saudi-owned TV drama fights Islamic State propaganda 

Foreign Policy, Can Good Television Beat the Islamic State?

It is also referred to in this post on Arabic for Nerds, Are there TV shows in Classical Arabic with English subtitles? which points out that the series will be available post-Ramadan on MBC's YouTube channel.

ISIS Philippines

Mubaraz Ahmed, religionandgeopolitics.org, ISIS in the Philippines? The Marawi Battle Intensifies "The raising of ISIS’ black flag over the city sent a strong message that despite setbacks in the Levant, the jihadi group remains active in other parts of the world."

Telegram & IS

Laura Smith, BBC News, Messaging app Telegram centrepiece of IS social media strategy "Although a long-time user of social media, IS activities took a significant turn in September 2015 when the group's official media outlets took to the messaging app Telegram. The move to the encrypted messaging service came after a long-running conflict with Twitter, which regularly shut down IS accounts, and some experimentation with less well-known platforms from which it was also expelled." Comprehensive article.

Beggars using social media to solicit alms

The Peninsula Qatar, Beggars using social media to solicit alms, 30 May 2017 "Beggars send text or a WhatsApp message and claim that they have a relative in critical condition or need help to have a surgery done."

Celebrating Zaha Hadid

Google Doodles, Celebrating Zaha Hadid

App to rescue animals

Cairo Scene, Startup Scene Profile: Egyptian Students Create an App to Rescue Street Animals "The ambitious app, set to launch in June, aims to keep malnourished and abused animals off the streets across Egypt, by connecting users to shelters."

Yalahwy: I Am an Egyptian Veiled Muslim Woman and I Date

Cairo Scene, Yalahwy: I Am an Egyptian Veiled Muslim Woman and I Date picks up on an online controversy surrounding John Legend's new music video.

Kuwaiti mobile operator's advert criticised and praised

BBC News, Kuwaiti mobile operator's advert criticised and praised "Kuwait-based Zain released the advert entitled "We Will Sing With Love" to mark the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. It shows a man wearing an explosive belt walking through staged scenes reminiscent to bombings that took place in several countries and has been viewed more than three million times."

Egypt's media ban: The audacity of ignorance

Rania Al Malky, Middle East Eye, Egypt's media ban: The audacity of ignorance, 29 May 2017 "In an unprecedented move, the Egyptian government officially acknowledged blocking 21 websites for allegedly running content “that supports terrorism and extremism as well as publishing lies”."

Social media users change profile picture in support of Qatar

thepeninsulaqatar.com, Social media users change profile picture in support of Qatar "A combination picture of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has gone viral among Qatari social media users. A hashtag calling to change the profile picture to this combination pic is also trending on Qatar social media."

Manchester attacks

Manchester Evening News, Watch: Hundreds of Muslim children and their families marched to the Manchester Arena

Times, Hero surgeon abused after 48 hours of saving lives 

Imam, Bishop & Rabbi lead the procession of British Imams from Cathedral to St Ann's Square for #PrayerForManchester. #WeStandTogether  

"Hackers take aim at Qatar by publishing fake news on QNA"

Doha News, Hackers take aim at Qatar by publishing fake news on QNA, 24 May 2017
"An “unknown entity” has hacked Qatar’s official news agency, and is responsible for publishing a false statement attributed to the Emir, the Government Communications Office (GCO) has said."

Manchester explosion

Independent, Manchester explosion: Isis supporters share messages celebrating explosion

Sky News, Tracing the Manchester bomber: Was he part of a network?  

De los imames a los nuevos predicadores: liderazgos en la interpretacion del Islam en Europa

Lina Klemkaite, CIDOB, De los imames a los nuevos predicadores: liderazgos en la interpretacion del Islam en Europa "The aim of this article is to analyse the locus of Muslim religious authority in Europe. It has shifted, leading to an increased number of Muslim voices demanding space for critical and intellectual participation and a degree of rivalry for religious and social authority. Those competing for religious au- thority have primarily been men, but women – contrary to prevailing opinion – have not been wholly excluded. We may thus af rm that women also participate in this compe- tition for authority, although only to a cer- tain degree. Ultimately, there are ever more Muslim social, political and religious lead- ers advocating a range of causes with the aim of satisfying the sophisticated demands of the individualised Muslim community."

This Super Viral Photo Of A Muslim Woman Ended Up In A Book About Instagram's Banned Images

buzzfeed.com, This Super Viral Photo Of A Muslim Woman Ended Up In A Book About Instagram's Banned Images 

Facebook's Book of Rules

Guardian, Revealed: Facebook's internal rulebook on sex, terrorism and violence

The Qatari princess, Angelina Jolie and the battle of the pyramids

BBC News, The Qatari princess, Angelina Jolie and the battle of the pyramids

Trump Tour

NBC, 'Just words': Trump speech to Muslim world earns praise, condemnation
aljazeera, Riyadh summit discusses ways of rooting out terrorism 

BBC, 'Trump, servant of God': How Saudis are viewing his visit

The Atlantic, Trump's Speech on Islam, Annotated

Raw Story, ‘He’s been neutered’: Trump supporters melt down after president calls Islam ‘one of world’s great faiths’

Rouhani re-election

alaraby, Young Iranians take to streets to celebrate Rouhani re-election

aljazeera, Rouhani: Iran ready to promote relations with the world

Abu Zubaydah

Rob Hastings,inews, Exclusive: 'The terrorist I helped capture shouldn't be tortured', 16 May 2017 "Former CIA analyst John Kiriakou helped capture alleged terrorist Abu Zubaydah - and was the first CIA source to confirm he was tortured."

Instagram 'worst for young mental health'

BBC News, Instagram 'worst for young mental health' "Instagram is rated as the worst social media platform when it comes to its impact on young people's mental health, a UK snapshot survey suggests."

Iran's election and social media issues

Here's a quick round-up of selected coverage on Iran's election, focusing on the impact of social media:

BBC News, Iran's Instagram election sees rivals fight battles on social media

The Slate, What Did Iranian President Rouhani Actually Achieve? Channel 4,  Qom report  (Jon Snow report)

Deutsche Welle, Posting political opinions: how Iran's social media is shaping its presidential election

NYT, Iran Has Its Own Hard-Line Populist, and He’s on the Rise 

NPR, The Rise Of The Internet-Based Economy Shows What's Changed In Iran
 
Vocative,  Iranian Hardliners Finally Join Social Media Ahead Of Elections  "Supporters of the hardline camp are now widely visible online, in thousands of posts on Twitter or joining dozens of channels and groups affiliated with their candidate on the Telegram messaging app, which used by an estimated 20 million people in Iran."


Reuters, Iran hardliners join social media free-for-all before vote, "By far the most popular social media outlet is Telegram, a chat service that is a niche player in most Western countries but has some 20 million users in Iran, according to a report by the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA)."

CNBC, Iran's election is too close to call. Tehran's role on the world stage hangs in the balance

Arab News, Mock election poster calls on Iranians to elect Snoop Dogg as president 

Countering terrorism by telling a better story

Deo Akiiki, Countering terrorism by telling a better story | defenceWeb military perspective/opinion

How a woman in England tracks civilian deaths in Syria, one bomb at a time

Greg Jaffe, washingtonpost.com, How a woman in England tracks civilian deaths in Syria, one bomb at a time "Haddad spent the last part of her day, before her children returned from school, searching online for Amaq, the Islamic State affiliated news agency. Much of the site is devoted to Islamic State propaganda, but it can also be an important source of information, photos and video on civilian casualties in places, such as Raqqa, where the Islamic State’s brutal clampdown has made it exceedingly dangerous for Syrians to communicate with the outside world." Very interesting article.

How Facebook Helps to Reveal the Fate of Missing Syrian Refugees

wired.com, How Facebook Helps to Reveal the Fate of Missing Syrian Refugees Just read this excellent piece in the latest Wired (UK print version)

The Myth of the Muslim World

Chronicle, The Myth of the Muslim World  



Cemil Aydin's book 'The Idea of the Muslim World' reviewed by Asma Afsaruddin. This sounds like a must-read.  

New & Noted

Digital Resistance in the Middle East New Media Activism in Everyday Life - Deborah L. Wheeler 

Big Data

 

Posted by  Mostafa Gaafar‏ @imGaafar May 14:

Egypt: 1 Ransomeware: 0