Kashmir

Wasim Khalid, geo.tv, The Kashmir war goes viral "Last month, authorities in Indian-occupied Kashmir banned 22 social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp, for a period of one month. The crackdown, claims the state government, was necessary for the “maintenance of public order” after pro-freedom protests broke out in the troubled region on the day of a poll in Srinagar. The ensuing violence killed nine people." analysis/opinion

Girls still sent to Kashmir for forced weddings

irinnews.org, Girls still sent to Kashmir for forced weddings "[Other] ... women have made dramatic escapes, using the internet to seek help from the British High Commission or hiding spoons in their underwear to set off airport metal detectors, giving them an opportunity to speak to authorities."

Internet slows down in Jammu & Kashmir

Internet slows down in Jammu & Kashmir as social network sites face partial censorship - Economic Times  "In a bid to prevent trouble, the government ensured the internet speeds go down in Kashmir. While the social networking sites have been rolled back to the cell phone users, even those using computers are facing crippling issues owing to lowing speed."

Qasim Faktoo online campaign

South Asian News Agency, Geelani casts net; launches website for Dr Qasim’s release, 29 May 2012 "Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani turned to Internet to campaign for the release of Dr Qasim Faktoo who will complete 20 years in jail next month. To garner support for the incarcerated Muslim League leader, Geelani launched a website www.releasedrqasim.org at a function here."

Kashmir protests

Daily Mail, Indian police kill 18 and wound more than 100 in Kashmir during Koran-burning riots, 14 Sep 2010 "Most broadcasters have given scant coverage to the still-unidentified man who was hustled away from an anti-Muslim protest in New York after he tore and burned pages from a Koran.

"Other such burnings, conducted in America on 9/11 or posted on the internet shortly after, have also been ignored".

Kashmiri issues/YouTube

WSJ, Rocks, YouTube Undergird Kashmiri Protests, 3 Sep 2010 "A little-known Kashmiri separatist leader is spurring stone-throwing protests against India with tactics such as YouTube recruitment videos and protest calendars published in local media, fostering protracted violence that is bedeviling New Delhi."

For information purposes, here's an example of these tactics, with graphic images and a speech by Masarat Alam Bhat:

Blackburn 'jihadis'

Kim Pilling, Press Association, Independent, Jihadi terror obsession led to pair's conviction, 23 June 2010

"In his online guise he was the freedom fighter who had just returned wounded from the battlegrounds of disputed Kashmir or the committed warrior who had been locked in combat with US forces in Iraq.

"The reality was that Kanmi sent most of his messages from the more tranquil setting of Blackburn Central Library."

Update on Shakeel Ahmad Bhat: kashmirnewz.com, Rage boy not to sue companies using his image, 9 Dec 07 "Since most of the blog posts about Bhat are in same unchanging, demeaning, hostile tone, Bhat says that he is yet to take decision about suing the persons who constantly resort to damaging his image.

""I am personally hurt with the people who had distorted my image by some times presenting me as a pig and sometimes a naked blonde. I am thinking in terms of dealing with them as per law," Bhat told Kashmir Newz.

"Legal experts believe that the American websites that have reproduced Shakeel's image may be breaching his image rights under US intellectual property law and for that Bhat has a strong case against them."

Daily Mail, The surprising truth about Rage Boy, America's hated poster-boy of Islamic radicalism, 11 Nov 07 is rather a sympathetic portrayal of Shakeel Ahmad Bhat by Patrick French: "Shakeel Ahmad Bhat is the product of poverty, lack of opportunity and state brutality. Islam is to him a way of life. He is illiterate and his only source of news is the street."

dnaindia.com, Kashmiri youth rediscover religion, 4 Nov 07, "It has become a trend of sorts as more and more youth are turning to religion. And there are plenty of new Islamic schools that are acting as catalysts of this change. ‘School of Orthoepy, Quran and Theology Education’ is one such school in Kashmir which is using technology for religious teachings. Computers, big projectors, internet and other technological innovations have made religious teachings easy to fathom.

""We have technology at hand and we should use it. There is no harm in using technology in religious teachings," says Tanveer Ahmad, a computer professional, who runs School of Orthoepy, Quran and Theology Education." Their site is here: SOQTE.org BTW Orthoepy = Tajweed. Image on the left is taken from the front page of the site

KUNA, Turkey's Islamic research center issues 32nd volume of Islamic encyclopedia, 26 Apr 07 Refers to ISAM (İslâm Araştırmaları Merkesi)

AFP/Middle East Times, Rebels threaten Kashmir Internet cafes, 25 Apr 07 " A hardline Islamic rebel group in Indian Kashmir ordered Internet cafes to demolish closed-door cabins where users surf, claiming that they are being used for "licentious" purposes." Refers to the Badr Mujahideen group; their statement was delivered by telephone.

The News (Pakistan), Jihadi media thrives despite promised crackdown, 25 Apr 07 "Despite government promises to crack down, hate-filled Jihadi propaganda is thriving in Pakistan, especially in print and on the Internet. Critics say it is contributing to the demonisation of the West and the "Talibanisation" of Pakistan."

AP/star-telegram.com, Taliban leader: Bin Laden was behind attack, 26 Apr 07 "A top Taliban commander said al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was behind the February attack outside a U.S. military base in Afghanistan during a visit by Vice President Dick Cheney, according to an interview shown Wednesday by Arab broadcaster Al Jazeera."

CNS, Moderate Muslims Speak Out, But Not on PBS, 25 Apr 07 "Some of the key Muslim figures featured in the documentary believe PBS is practicing censorship and doing a disservice to the American public. The film, which was supposed to be part of a PBS series, cost taxpayers more than $600,000."

BBC, Students 'had terrorist material', 25 April 2007 "Five students collected a large quantity of extremist material on their computers to use for terrorist goals, a court has heard.

"Among the items was a film showing atrocities against Muslims around the world, which was aimed at encouraging martyrdom, the Old Bailey was told."

AKI, 'Islamic State Of Iraq' Presents Its 'Cabinet', 23 April 2007 "The self proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq, which includes the al-Qaeda cell in Iraq and several insurgent groups, has announced the creation of its 'government'. Despite the fact that most of the Iraqi Sunni insurgency have refused to join the recent umbrella formation and are edging closer to the tribes involved in a tentative dialogue with the Baghdad government, the group's emir Abu Omar al-Baghdadi is undeterred. He has announced the formation of an 'executive' whose members have been introduced via the Internet in recent days in a video prepared by the groups's 'information office'."