Online Protesters Given Prison Sentences in Oman

Online Protesters Given Prison Sentences in Oman | Freedom House:

Advertorial: Alafasy Quran service

zawya.com, Nawras leads with launch of exclusive Alafasy Quran service, 5 Oct 2010 "Nawras, a Qtel Group company, is delighted to be introducing a new Quran service providing regular Islamic recitations by Shaikh Mishary Rishad Alafasy, delivered directly to customers' handsets. The service is already being enjoyed by almost half a million people across the region and Nawras is now making it available for the first time in the Sultanate of Oman."

Advertorial (but interesting for readers of this blog)

COMEX

globalarabnetwork.com, Digital society in Oman - OITE, ICT experts gear up for COMEX 2010, 28 Jan 2010 "With the vision to build a digital society in Oman, organizers of COMEX – the country’s IT, telecom and technology event, OITE, and its COMEX Advisory Committee recently convened to discuss major decisions to boost the capacity and strength of the Sultanate’s largest ICT event."

Here's the exhibition's website

Oman ROP VoiP raid

Rahima Al Balushi, Times of Oman, 212 held for providing VoiP, 16 Nov 09, "The Royal Oman Police (ROP) raided 121 cyber cafes throughout the country and arrested 212 people for providing illegal Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoiP) service, a senior police officer said here yesterday." tip Neteffect

Oman web leak fine

AFP, Oman punishes Internet writer for govt leak, 21 Apr 09, "An Omani court on Tuesday fined a web user for leaking a confidential government document on an Internet forum."

Oman e-commerce

arabadvisors.com, Oman's Internet users spent US$ 236 million in 2008 on retail e-commerce, 16 Mar 09 "Arab Advisors major online survey of Oman's Internet users revealed that 40.2% of adult Internet users in Oman have used e-commerce. The Arab Advisors Group estimates the number of Oman Internet users who use e-commerce to be more than 158,000 which is around 5.62% of the total population in Oman, spending US$ 236 million in e-commerce transactions in 2008."

RFE, Iraq: RFE/RL Report Reveals Weaknesses In Sunni-Insurgent Media War, 26 June 07, "The book-length report, "Iraqi Insurgent Media: The War Of Images And Ideas" by RFE/RL regional analysts Daniel Kimmage and Kathleen Ridolfo, provides an in-depth analysis of the media efforts of Sunni insurgents, who are responsible for the majority of U.S. combat deaths in Iraq." Can be downloaded as pdf Have yet to read this. There is a related review at Washington Post, Insurgents Muster Their Forces Online, 26 June 2007. I am dealing with some related issues in my next book (to be published late 07/early 08), which is currently in-press. Full details and title to follow.

Terrorism Focus, Forum Users Improve Electronic Jihad Technology, June 07, "The new electronic jihad website, al-jinan.org, is not only operating continuously, but it is developing new techniques to enhance the technology and methods of promoting electronic jihad. With the spreading use of the internet in the Arab and Islamic world, the number of users engaged in some form of electronic jihad is likely to increase substantially."

Asia Sentinel/koreatimes.co.kr, Don’t Count Your Conspiracies Before They Are Hatched, 27 June 07

"The latest wave of arrests under Singapore’s Internal Security Act, which allows detention in secret and without trial, has attracted scant news coverage and even less comment.

"That alone shows how the mere mention of the words 'war on terror' and 'Islamic extremism' can bring the media, regional and western alike, rushing to judgment based on official assertions and a generalized fear of Islam rather than proven facts."

ameinfo.com, ICDL applauds Sultan Qaboos University for spreading digital literacy in Oman and complying with global standards

AP/yahoo, Baghdad dating game adapts to war, 27 June 07 IT thread to this

Ali Eteraz, Muslims For Progressive Values; Start New Org, 26 June 07 "The progressive Muslim movement in the United States took a significant step forward as a diverse collection of activists, organizers, and academics gathered at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, June 15-17, for the first conference of Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV, website: www.mpvusa.org). Coming together in fellowship, they joined in communal devotion, shared the various personal, intellectual, and spiritual journeys that brought them there, discussed how to formulate their positions on political, social, and cultural issues and how to interact with other progressives and other Muslims. They also elected an Executive Board to lead them for the next two years."