The Spying Game

Guardian, Spy agencies in covert push to infiltrate virtual world of online gaming "NSA and GCHQ collect gamers' chats and deploy real-life agents into World of Warcraft and Second Life"

SL hajj

Heba Afify, Daily News Egypt, On Islam offers Muslims, non-Muslims chance to go on 'virtual hajj', 10 Nov 2010 "In the virtual world Second Life, users can engage in many different activities such as building virtual property, trading, traveling, and this year, going on hajj is no exception.

"On Islam, an Islamic website, created a Hajj Island on the virtual world Second Life which allows anyone to perform the hajj rituals."

SL is discussed in iMuslims

SL

CSM, A virtual world that breaks real barriers, 10 Sep 2010

"In Second Life's Al-Andalus, a virtual world patterned after medieval Andalus in Spain, avatars of Muslims mix with avatars of Jews and Christians to strive for a more perfect union."

I write about SL in iMuslims.

al-Andalus 2.0 in SL

Joshua Fouts, Saudi Aramco Magazine, al-Andalus 2.0, Jul/Aug 2010
  "In the sl community called Al-Andalus, several hundred people—from Singapore, St. Petersburg, Jiddah, London, Houston, and cities and towns across more than a dozen real countries—are beginning to explore what convivencia might mean today. In real life, some of the more active Al-Andalus members are accomplished professionals; they include a Russian ballerina, a Saudi accounting student, a retired British engineer and a Houston attorney."

Also see Joshua Fouts, theimaginationage.net, New Article in Saudi Aramco World: Al Andalus 2.0

'Virtual Hajj'

France24, 'Virtual Haj' allows Internet users to make 'pilgrimage', 25 Nov 09 "This year’s Haj commenced on Wednesday, attracting 2.5 million worshippers to the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca. For those who can’t make the trip, however, the “Virtual Haj” – found on the Islam Online site - allows Internet users a way to pay virtual homage to the fifth pillar of Islam."

Details at Hajj Blog, Islam Online, perform Hajj on Second Life, 9 Nov 09

If you're not on SL, then take a look at this (made in '08) "This is for an ethnography class for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. This is a synopsis of IslamOnline.net's virtual Hajj on Second Life." While the clip is useful, please be advised that this has a music soundtrack attached, so you may want to hit 'mute' on your computer!. It may be more atmospheric...:

Ramadan in Second Life

Meedan, Muslim preachers take Ramadan message into Second Life, "Muslim preachers have taken their Ramadan message into a new realm this year - on the virtual world "Second Life"."

Well, it's not exactly new (see iMuslims on this and on Islam Online's involvement in Second Life), but it is interesting to see participation on this scale.

Islam Online have produced a great Ramadan tent this year (spending their Linden dollars wisely). You can see a slideshow of the tent here. There's a related article here: Islam Online, Ramadan in IOL Second Life Tent

There's also an informative article by Aldric Chang: media-freaks.com, Ramadan Sessions in Second Life, 18 Aug 09 "Explaining this move, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Ghamdi describes the phenomenon of the new media: “The objective of this lecture is to remind the youth exploring Second Life about the fires and winds of the blessed Ramadan,” Al-Ghamdi said, “and how they can use this month to obey and worship, strengthening the conviction that Islam is the religion of integrity and perfection.”"

I also liked It's Maddie the Hijabi, Islam in Virtual Worlds, which is illustrated with several SL screen shots.

"I started using Second Life last year and found out about this virtual sim (virtual island or place in there) made and owned by IslamOnline.net . I discovered a hidden gem that most people don't know about!"

Virtual Newsroom

DIP's Dispatches from the Imagination Age, The Launch of a Journalistic Experiment: The Virtual Newsroom of the American University in Cairo, 7 Apr 09 "Today at the Virtual Journalism Conference at the Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University (WSU), Dancing Ink Productions (DIP) is proud to premiere our latest documentary: "Virtual Journalism: Inside the Virtual Newsroom of the American University in Cairo." The documentary is part of an ongoing project in collaboration with Lawrence Pintak the director of the Kamal Adham Center for Journalism and Research to explore the transformation of the business and culture of journalism in a global context. It was produced in conjunction with Ill Clan Animation studios. It describes a news conference in Second Life organized by DIP and AUC which brought together James K. Glassman who was then US Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and a group of eight Egyptian bloggers."

Haven't seen this all yet.

Research Outcomes

dancinginkproductions.com, Understanding Islam through Virtual Worlds "On January 29, 2009, Dancing Ink Productions released the findings from the Understanding Islam through Virtual Worlds project at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. The findings included a trilogy of actionable items available in digital format here. By releasing three types of reports — policy recommendations, documentary video and graphic book — we hope to make what is still a very new medium as accessible as possible."

Links to various products of this project can be found on the page. I haven't read any of this yet, so may well be commenting later in some form ...

Research

Bill Berkowitz, religiondispatches.org/Scoop.co.nz, Virtual Islam: Peace, Love, and Some Understanding, 24 Jan 09 Interview with Joshua S. Fouts, who has produced a report (previously blogged) with Rita J. King entitled Understanding Islam through Virtual Worlds. They are Senior Fellows at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. I haven't seen the report yet (out 29 Jan 09).

Glassman Interview

American University in Cairo, Egyptian Bloggers to Interview U.S. Public Diplomacy Czar in New Virtual Arab Newsroom, 8 Jan 08 "In a first-ever event on the internet, a group of seven Egyptian bloggers will conduct a “virtual” interview with the head of U.S. public diplomacy on January, 12. The encounter with James Glassman, US Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, will take place in a new Virtual Newsroom created in the internet community Second Life for the Adham Center for Journalism Training and Research at The American University in Cairo (AUC)."

Gaza

PDIP's Dispatches from the Imagination Age, Dozens Gather in Second Life to Protest Gaza Attacks, 29 Dec 08

"Dozens of people have been gathering since Saturday in Second Life at a protest of the recent attacks in the Gaza Strip. The Egypt and Qatar-based news site, IslamOnline.net, has built a Palestine Holocaust Memorial Museum with scores of pictures of the attacks and people wounded in the attacks drawn news sources around the world. The museum was previously named the Gaza Holocaust Museum, about which we blogged in March 2008. Those who identified themselves who attended the gathering were mostly in Egypt, but also included people in Morocco, Italy, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, France and the United States."

Muxlim Pal

machinist.salon.com, Muxlim Pal to be world's first Muslim-themed virtual world, 22 Oct 08 " ... "within the next few months," says Ashar Saeed, a vice president at Muxlim.com, the Internet will receive its first Muslim-themed virtual world, not unlike Second Life, complete with its own currency and culture.

"Saeed asserts that Muxlim.com, based in Finland and the United Kingdom, is the world's largest online Muslim community."

Also see Mike Butcher, Techcrunch, Muxlim plans Muslim world’s first virtual world, 20 Oct 08 "Muslim social network Muxlim.com, live since late 2006, is planning to launch a Muslim-oriented virtual world not unlike Second Life. The idea is that something tailored to the Muslim world would be allowed through the IP-blocks of countries like United Arab Emirates which currently stops access to virtual worlds and online games considered unsuitable or offensive to Muslim culture. The virtual world is said to launch in 4-6 weeks and will “allow the opportunity to wear a hijab, and go to prayer rooms.” Muxlim itself is your standard social network offering community features, blogs and video sharing. The revenue model will be VIP accounts, virtual gifts, virtual furniture/clothes, themes/styles, profile applications, advertising, branded communities and physical merchandise like t-shirts."

The Techcrunch article inevitably attracted a range of comments (before discussion was closed). Imran Ali suggested: "But I’ve *already* been promised a Second Life!"

Social networking themes are in my next book.

Nothing specific on this in Muxlim, apart from links to the story.

Virtual Hajj


DIP's Dispatches from the Imagination Age, The Virtual Hajj to Mecca, 25 Aug 08 (added retrospectively)

Second Life in Dubai

The National, Dubai college reveals its Second Life, 9 Jun 08 "DWC’s Second Life campus is closed to the public. But on a private tour of the virtual facility, Mr Karstad – represented online as his alter-ego “Dubai Karas” – unlocked the gates for The National.

"Sheathed in a gold-trimmed kandura he bought at a virtual Saudi market, Dubai Karas is otherwise a faithful translation of the real Mr Karstad – moustache, glasses and all."

Second Life

Mercury News, Congressional hearing in two worlds, 2 Apr 08 "Rosedale said Linden Lab of San Francisco, the maker of Second Life, has cooperated with law enforcement and seen no evidence of activity by terrorists. He also said he suspected that law enforcement had created its own avatars to check out virtual worlds."

One of a number of Ramadan sites that have caught my attention this year is Ramadan Kareem (above). It's got some interesting resources on, and links to other materials - a real international flavour. I have also been visiting the Islam Online tent in Second Life, although it was rather quiet the other day when I flew in ... I also like listening to the Radio Ramadhan site (below), which is based in Glasgow, and has some lively programming, especially early evening.

Islam Online, IOL Virtual Ramadan Tent Attacked, 16 Sept 07 I am presently doing some work on Second Life, and previously blogged on this, but have yet to visit the tent. Here are some extracts from the report by IOL. Take a look at the full report, including the comments by some readers:

"In the first attack, two male avatars showed up completely naked in the tent claiming they came here to "control the tent and remove all Muslims from it."

"The two then proceeded to sexually harass the female avatars of a few Arab women who were present in the tent at the time ...

" ... The attacks were stopped short when a Bahraini girl with an avatar called Laracroft Bade stood up for the attackers.

"Using virtual weapons of protection she was able to remove the attackers from the tent."

Islam Online, IOL Opens Ramadan Tent in Second Life, 14 Sept 07, "IslamOnline is marking the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan by launching the first Ramadan tent ever made inside the virtual world." If you have a Second Life account, then you can find the tent next to the Chebi Mosque. I am looking forward to visiting this in due course. IOL has had a makeover recently, and is now easier to navigate.

On a different issue, Islam Online are cited in the following article: gaycitynews.com, Distorting Desire, 13 Sept 07, "The Internet, in particular, is making a huge impact in many parts of the world. In countries where public discussion of homosexuality is still taboo, it is often the most accessible source of information and provides comfort for many whose sexuality has made them feel lonely and isolated." This is an interesting review by Brian Whitaker of The Guardian, of Joseph Massad's controversial book 'Desiring Arabs'.

aQ:

Reuters, Iraq Qaeda issues video of U.S. pilot killed in crash, 14 Sept 07 "The video posted on the Internet by the media arm of the Islamic State in Iraq showed the body of a dead man in a flight suit wearing a parachute harness and lying in an open area."

The Economist, Visions of Osama bin Laden, 13 Sept 07 commentary

echoroukonline.com, Cybercafes teach terror in Algeria, 13 Sept 07 "In the absence of surveillance, children and adolescents who frequent cybercafes may be brainwashed by terror networks throughout their websites."

Non-techReuters/Yahoo! News, Iraqis vow to fight al Qaeda after sheikh's death, 14 Sept 07 more background on Wiki: Anbar Salvation Council

AFP/Yahoo!, Malaysian bloggers join forces to fight defamation suit, 4 Apr 07 "Two Malaysian bloggers, who are being sued by the same newspaper for defamation, joined forces to fight their unprecedented lawsuits Wednesday, which have been criticised for stifling free expression."

The Register, Google thwarts al-Qaeda kamikaze strike on US embassy, 4 Apr 07 I checked the date on this one before posting it - if it had come out on 1 Apr I wouldn't have placed it here...

Reuters, FBI checks gambling in Second Life virtual world, 4 Apr 07