al-Husein N. Madhany, Arabicizing Your Computer. Georgetown University IT Consultant offers a useful introduction to setting up Arabic reading and writing on your PC (not so much on Macs, however). Requires Acrobat Reader

MEMRI: Syrian Produced Hizbullah TV Ramadan Series - Video Clip of Ritual Murder, 18 Nov 03

BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | Indian teen at gates of success, 17 Nov 03 Profile of Suhas Gopinath includes reference to pro-Pakistani hacking:

""Suhas' passion drove him to develop his own web page called CoolHindustan.com, aimed at Indians living abroad.

"US-based Network Solutions Inc was impressed and certified him as one of the world's youngest web page developers.

"Barely two months after the launch the site was hacked into and changed overnight to CoolPakistan.com.

"'It was the worst time of my life,' says Suhas, who received threatening calls.""

U.S. News: Predicting terrorists next moves with common-sense computing(4/7/03)"Under a $9.8 million grant from the Defense Department's Information Awareness Office, Cyc has acquired a trove of knowledge about past terrorist activities, tactics, and weapons. But it is still a work in progress. Once, developing a scenario for a terrorist attack on Hoover Dam, it hypothesized a school of 1,000 al Qaeda- trained dolphins bearing explosives. Another time, Cyc, which can learn by asking questions, inquired: "Am I human?" It's reassuring to know it still needs our help."

U.S. News: Letter from Riyadh: Of Bedouins and bombings(11/24/03): "One Saudi professor confided, however, that even these pro-U.S. reformers worry that America may push the Saudis to change too quickly, creating a backlash. But America's critics seem the least of the Saudis' problems. Some 200 satellite channels are beamed into Saudi homes, offering racy MTV-like music videos, news from around the world, and American films that show a radically different way of life. While we worry that Saudi textbooks and imams preach jihad, the kids can be found after school at Internet cafes, surfing hard-core porn sites. There are those tempted by radical Islam, to be sure, but most young Saudi men seem to want what teenage guys everywhere want: girls, cool clothes, and rock-and-roll. "

Hi Pakistan, Pakistan not a terrorist state, says Qazi, 17 Nov 03 Interview with Qazi Hussain Ahmed, head of Jama'at-e-Islami, in which he states:

"A family and the society develops with their joint efforts and a family and home are the basics of a culture,” Qazi Hussain said stressing the womenfolk to pay more attention on intellectual training of their children saving them from the evils of internet, dish, cable and TV culture."

The Jama'at-e-Islami website is discussed in Virtually Islamic

A Muslim Scholar Raises Hackles in France, 17 Nov 03: Discussion on Tariq Ramadan, who has a new book - and refers to Ramadan's article on a website:

"'He is a very complex man, a provocateur who knows how to play media politics,' said Olivier Roy, the French scholar of Islam. 'He's emotional when he speaks to Muslim audiences and business-minded with non-Muslims. What he's trying to do is create a Muslim citizen identity.' That goal, said Mr. Roy, 'carries contradictions.'

"It carries misunderstandings as well. Mr. Ramadan touched off a verbal firestorm last month after he posted an essay on a Muslim Internet site suggesting that a number of French intellectuals (whom he identified as Jewish) took political positions because of their Jewishness."

MediaGuardian.co.uk | Broadcast | Al-Jazeera fires Ridley, 17 Nov 03: "Yvonne Ridley, the former Express journalist who was kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan and subsequently converted to Islam, has been sacked as editor of al-Jazeera's English-language service." Ridley was editing aspects of the al-Jazeera website.

BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Turkish press aghast at bombings survey of Internet press.

- smh.com.au, You will see cars of death, al-Qaeda group warns allies more on the email statement sent to al-Quds al-Arabi, 17 Nov 03.

History News Network, Is It Possible to Combat Radical Islamism Without Combatting Islam? article by Mehdi Mozaffari, bound to cause controversy in some quarters. Part of a series by the academic (based in Denmark).

BBC NEWS | Programmes | From Our Own Correspondent | Overhasty clean-up in Riyadh: "The young Saudi soldier was sitting cross-legged on a rug. He gestured to me. 'There's something over there you might want to see.' " The clean-up operation that ignores the forensic possibilities of the site.

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Al-Quds' editor, Abdel-Bari Atwan Abdel-Bari Atwan discusses the email received in his offices (one of a sequence of four) and its 'authenticity'. [Video clip - Real Media]

BBC NEWS | UK | Muslim cleric appeals detention, 17 Nov 03: "Abu Qatada has been held without charge or trial for more than a year, under terror laws imposed after 11 September. " Discussed in Islam in the Digital Age

Newsweek, A Ceasefire: 'The First Step Q&A with Ahmed Qurei (new Palestinian PM).

MSNBC< Yemen frees 92 repentant al-Qaida suspects and hundreds of others for Ramadan

Telegraph | News | Islamists arrested in Pakistani clampdown, 17 Nov 03: "The banned groups are better known by their original names. Two are Sunni Muslim militant parties, Sipah-e-Sahab and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which have close links to al-Qa'eda. The third is a Shia party, Therik-e-Jafria." Lashkar-e-Taiba is also under surveillance. Some of these organisations are discussed in Islam in the Digital Age.

The Peninsula On-line, "BBC launches radio services for Afghans " After all the cuts that have taken place over the years at the BBC External Services, now some new key services are being launched. I assume that these new Pashtu channels will also be available via the web.

The Peninsula On-line: Qaradawi condemns Ramadan 'parties', 16 Nov 03 "According to Qaradawi, the terminology of Jihad in the Islamic thought has two major concepts – one of which is fighting and resisting occupation, while the other is presentation of Islam to humanity. "Those who jump to a wrong conclusion and wage war against innocent people should first present Islam to them", he said.""

Hitek, LG phone for Islamic world, Nov 03

Makkah Imam Equates Riyadh Bombing With Israeli Terror, 15 Nov 03

Khaleej Times Online, Mahathir slams Malaysian opposition party’s Islamic state plan, 15 Nov 03 'Retirement' hasn't dampened Mahathir's opinions on PAS.

Wired News: Where Sharing Isn't a Dirty Word

BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | Cartoon fame for Indian tech school

BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Bombs hit Istanbul synagogues refers to Great Easten Islamic Raiders' Front.

My Way News/AP Imam's Video Studied for Osama Footage, 14 Nov 03: "Anti-terrorism police in Turin Friday were studying a video on a Senegalese imam's computer to determine if it might show fresh film of Osama bin Laden.

"Turin daily La Stampa said that two computers, cassettes, CD-ROMs and boxes full of documents were seized from the Muslim preacher's home in a Turin suburb Thursday morning."

Yale University Library : OACIS: "OACIS for the Middle East (Online Access to Consolidated Information on Serials) will improve access to Middle Eastern serials in libraries in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. " Prototype version, launched on 10 Nov.03

Islamic Arts and Architecture Organization contains screensavers, desktop pix, and a detailed online discussion about calligraphy, together with other resources.

AP/Daily Comet, Former Head of Islamic Charity Sentenced, 14 Nov 03 refers to Islamic Assembly of North America (discussed in Islam in the Digital Age

Gulf Daily News, Mullah Omar urges 'jihad' in new tape, 14 Nov 03 "Unidentified men on a motorbike handed Reuters an audio cassette yesterday said to be of supreme Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, two years to the day after his hardline regime fled Kabul."

AmericanDaily.com - American University of Sharjah Computers Being Used To Send Messages About al Qaeda Attacks - Jeremy Reynalds, 11 Nov 03:

IHT: Cheaper cellphone calls on horizon I put this in the blog, because of its implications in opening up mobile phone use to people who cannot presently afford it.

MSNBC/Reuters Calif. man fined for Al Jazeera hack, 13 Nov 03 "A Los Angeles-area man has been fined and sentenced to community service for hacking into the Web site of satellite TV network Al Jazeera during the U.S.-led war in Iraq and rerouting visitors to a page featuring an American flag and the motto “Let Freedom Ring.”

Islamist Wackos Praise 9/11 as a "Magnificent Day", 14 Nov 03 Writer Jeremy Reynalds seems to be having a busy week, as his work has cropped up elsewhere on the blog recently. If one goes beyond the headline, this is a summary of recent online activities on Yahoo!, and a discussion on al-Muhajiroun.

Internet Haganah: Sleeping with the enemy, 13 Nov 03 discussion on Yusuf al-Qasadawi (originally in PRISM).

MEMRI< Special Dispatch Series - No. 580, The New Egyptian Mufti - Dr. Sheikh 'Ali Gum'a: Opinions About Jihad, Supporting Suicide Bombings, and Forbidding Muslims in the U.S. Military From Fighting Other Muslims, Oct 03

New York Times, Marriages Made Not in Heaven but in a Cleric's Office, 11 Nov 03
This is an excellent article (in the context of this blog) about the Iranian website/marriage bureau ardabili.com - run by Jaffar Savalanpour Ardabili. I've taken a quick look at ardabili.com : the Farsi/English site itself has an option to ask Ardabili a question by email. The site has been endorsed by several senior clerics, enabling Ardabili to undertake his duties. There are details of Ardabili's learned writings (in Farsi), including works of jurisprudence and analysis of contemporary societies. I was surprised to learn that he has also written a critique of Mr Bean ("A Criticism of Mr Bean's Humour Techniques".

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Islamic plan unveiled for Malaysia, 13 Nov 03 PAS are discussed in Virtually Islamic

albawaba.com: Report: Al Qaeda claims Riyadh suicide bombing, 11 Nov 03

Islam Online- News Section, Riyadh Bomb Attacks ‘Haram’: Qaradawi, 13 Nov 03 "The deadly bombing attacks against a residential compound in Riyadh is a prohibited act under the Islamic law, said prominent Islamic scholar Youssef Qaradawi." Islam Online is discussed in detail in Islam in the Digital Age - being one element of the Qaradawi 'machine'.

FOXNews.com - Top Stories - Saudi Bomb Victims Led 'Un-Islamic' Lifestyle, 13 Nov 03: "The foreigners who lived in the mainly Arab residential compound devastated by a suicide bombing say they were visited by Saudi religious police three months ago, putting them on notice that their Westernized lifestyle was under scrutiny."

American Daily, Anti Jewish Web Site Advocates Suicide Bombings Qwest apparently Hosting Site: Trying to "Resolve the Issue.", 13 Nov 03

BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Tragic end for smuggling donkeys, 13 Nov 03: "Smugglers in Algeria have reportedly come up with a novel way to get their contraband into Morocco - donkeys, with tape recorders on their backs.

"A taped message is repeated, saying 'Err', Arabic for 'walk', so that the donkeys do not stop as they follow the smugglers' tracks unaccompanied."

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Bombers rattle Saudi nerves, 13 Nov 03

ISN - Information Services - Security Watch, Government spies trawl cyber-space, 13 Nov 03

Aljazeera.Net - Wanted: Spy translators, 12 Nov 03

Aljazeera.Net - Singapore passes tough cyber law

Wired News: ITunes Undermines Social Security, 12 Nov 03 I was highly amused by this one, although it doesn't directly link into Islam in the Digital Age; I have, however, found that my iPod is a great way of accessing diverse digital copies of the Qur'an (amongst other materials), and have in fact referred to the Qur'an and iPods in a chapter for Lorne L. Dawson and Douglas E. Cowan, eds., Religion Online. New York; Routledge (forthcoming in 2004). So there is a tenuous link with this article after all!

MSNBC< Saudis assail militants after bombing, 12 Nov 03

Egypt Today, From the Field "CNN and Orascom Telecom partner up to showcase Middle East news"

Egypt Today, Gaber Dessouki Bakour: "Hamdia El-Shazleya's imam attracts thousands of worshippers with his call for moderation" Refers to the impact of the media in Egypt, and surveys a variety of Islam-related issues. Well worth reading.

Egypt Today, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?: "The Universal Lottery Co. wants to give you $2,000. Mohamed Abacha wants you to share his father's $45 million fortune. And Svetlana (or Boris) from Russia simply loves your smile. The catch is, none of them want you. They want your money - and your identity. Egypt Today investigates three of the most common Internet scams Egyptians are falling for. " 419 Scams

Egypt Today, Getting Their House Together, Nov 03: Discusses the use of the net by the Congress of Arab-American Organizations (CAAO).

Pakistan Christian Post, Mahathir Mohamad and Muslim Anti-Semitism, 12 Nov 03: "The Internet displays several Islamic web pages that combine radical Islamist views on politics with blatant anti-Semitism of the modern Nazi sort. One example is the 'al-Bayan' site whose chief editor is Jamaaluddin al-Haidar. It combines anti-Jewish Quranic and hadith sources with modern western anti-Semitic discourse such as the Protocols of the Elders of Zion and articles gleaned from the neo-Nazi fringe such as: 'The Truth About the Talmud: An Expose on the Roots of Zionism' and 'EXPOSED!: The AIPAC Tapes Revisited: Evidence of Zionist stranglehold over Clinton White House and US Congress.' [16] In one of his articles, Haidar calls on Muslims to drop their petty internal quarrels in order to unite in fighting their real enemy, the Jews"

BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | Bangladesh dials up internet phone calls "The Bangladeshi government has approved plans to allow internet telephony in the county's private sector for the first time.

"The system - known as voice over internet protocol or VoIP - is expected to enable millions of Bangladeshis to make cheap international calls."

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Israeli robot helicopter stolen "The helicopter ... weighs 14 kilos (30 pounds) and is 1.5 metres (five feet) long ..." and answers to the name of .... The burglars didn't take any software, apparently. Steadicopter suspect espionage.

The Age, The virus is 20 years old, 12 Nov 03 That's the computer virus, first devised by Fred Cohen. There is a Muslim element to this tale (as discussed in Islam in the Digital Age too):

"The first virus that was written for the IBM-compatible PC is generally thought to be the Pakistani Brain or Ashar virus. Brain has a copyright date of 1986 and infected the boot sector of a computer."

So happy birthday to the virus...

WorldNetDaily: Saudi sheik: 'Slavery is a part of Islam' "A leading Saudi government cleric and author of the country's religious curriculum believes Islam advocates slavery.

""Slavery is a part of Islam," says Sheik Saleh Al-Fawzan, according to the independent Saudi Information Agency, or SIA ...

"Al-Fawzan is a member of the Council of Religious Edicts and Research, the Imam of Prince Mitaeb Mosque in Riyadh and a professor at Imam Mohamed Bin Saud Islamic University, Saudi Arabia's main center of learning for the strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam."

TheStar.com - Hezbollah's dilemma, 11 Nov 03

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Riyadh bombing appals Arab press and other media.

Jihad Unspun - A Clear View On The US War On "Terrorism": "KUFR ALERT: Reynolds Poses As Mujahideen Sympathizer" claims Jihad Unspun, who have had some accusations thrown at them in the past too. Perhaps all parties need to look at the bigger picture here.

Arab News, Let’s Not Suppress Other Views, 11 Nov 03 refers to the Internet and Saudi Arabia.

United Press International: Muslim Politics 8: The impact of cable TV "Open societies are emerging in the Islamic world. This is mainly due to cable television, the Internet, and mass education, according to Dartmouth College anthropologist Dale F. Eickelman, who has observed new ways of thinking as a result of these developments."

Blessed-Bandwidth.net offers an online 'blessing' from the Mausoleum of Saint Hajiali of Mumbai. Discussed in Tate 'Net Art' and Press Assn./The Guardian, God in the Machine, 10 Nov 03.

BBC NEWS | Technology | A glimpse inside the virus writer 20 years of reearch into this issue...

BBC NEWS | Technology | Users face malicious web attacks, 8 Nov 03

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Al-Qaeda 'threat to Saudi royals' Interview material from Prince Turki al-Faisal (Saudi Ambassador in London) and others relating to the recent attacks.

Dow Jones,Taliban Audiotape Urges Muslims To Pray For Defeat Of US, 8 Nov 03

Islam Online- News Section, Ramadan Witnesses Total Lunar, Solar Eclipses, 9 Nov 03

smh.com.au, Khazal gave money to bomber suspect, 9 Nov 03 meetings arranged over the net form a theme of this ongoing case.

WorldNetDaily: Ramadan in Saudi Arabia cites Sheikh Mohsin Al-'Awaji's views on Osama bin Laden, and refers to fatwas produced on the net (and their status in some critics' eyes).

Daily Star Online, ‘We should wake up now:’ an interview with Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who states: "I am saddened by the fact that I own shares in companies working in the field of internet and movie theaters, and I cannot provide those services in my own country. I refuse to be accused of having gone beyond the limits of Islam. Everything should remain under the Islamic umbrella to avoid any misunderstanding, but people should be given some space in the kingdom. "

Middle East Online: "Sunni Islam's highest authority, Al-Azhar university, has blacklisted a book of love poetry by an Egyptian writer even though it was approved for sale by the Egyptian government earlier this year, a senior cleric said Monday.

"The university's Centre of Islamic Research found that Ahmed al-Shahawi's book 'Commandments on Women's Love' 'used sayings of the Prophet Mohammed out of context to call on women to love without reservation,' Sheikh Saber Thaalab said."

A ban such as this might inadvertently boost sales.

NapaNews.com | Prayers, shopping, and modern worries mark Ramadan in Saudi Arabia: "Some 18 million mobile phone text messages in Saudi Arabia wished Muslims happiness at the start of their holiest time of year, the fasting month of Ramadan."

MEMRI: Al-Qa'ida Website Issues Ramadan Warning of Imminent Attacks: Calls on Muslims in DC, NY, and LA to Leave Those Cities, 4 Nov 03. Based on the communique issued by 'Islamic Bayan Movement' - previously unknown according to MEMRI.

Sunnetwork Online News, Pak to monitor islamic seminaries: "After a long delay, Pakistan says it is about to launch a plan to strictly monitor Islamic seminaries, which allegedly breed religious fundamentalists. Pakistan Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat said, new legislation to monitor and regulate seminaries functioning in Madrasas will be tabled before the cabinet in a month." As discussed in Islam in the Digital Age: the big question is *who* will be doing the monitoring??

Indian Express, Pakistan is Jihad Inc's global HQ analysis from former Indian intelligence officer.

BBC - BBC Four Documentaries - Holidays in the Danger Zone Interview with Simon Reeve, on his documentary/travelogue to the 'Stans' (that's Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan). This was well worth seeing. The page has links to profiles on the countries.

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Saudi shock over 'foiled attack' John Simpson commentary.

Al Qaeda Again Threatens New York, Washington, and Los Angeles -- GOPUSA "A new message was posted Monday by the Jeddah-based, al Qaeda-linked Al-Islah (Reform) society calling on Muslims to flee New York, Washington, and Los Angeles in advance of threatened major al Qaeda attacks in those cities.

"The warning was reported by www.debka.com, a respected Internet publication which claims to be "devoted to independent, investigative reporting and forward analysis in the fields of international terrorism, intelligence, international conflict, Islam, military affairs, security and politics."

Islam Online- Irish Converts Jubilant About Tarawih use of wireless headphones in tarawih

IslamOnline - Ramadan between the Cape and the North, 4 Nov 03

Islam Online, Virtual Classroom Spots Islam’s Role In Human Civilization, 5 Nov 03 "The Islamic Society of Britain (ISB) has launched a new website aimed at helping British Muslim pupils learn about Islam in a fun and exciting way, focusing on Muslim heritage, culture and Islam’s contributions to modern day life."

CNN.com - Wireless Web reaches Kashmir - Nov. 4, 2003 "In a bid to woo back foreign tourists scared off by a bloody separatist rebellion, authorities have made the sprawling lake in the summer capital, Srinagar, the world's latest, and certainly one of its most unusual, Wireless Fidelity Wi-Fi "hotspots." I have the feeling it will take more than Wi-Fi to get the tourists rolling back in...

Middle East Online, Oman boosts Internet capacity

CNN.com - Internet littered with abandoned sites - Nov. 3, 2003

MSNBC, Somalia seen as al-Qaida refuge, 4 Nov 03

Wired News: U.S. to Install Biometric Screens

CBS News | The Islamic Terrorism Club | November 4, 2003

Posted by: Gary / 10:40 AM

The Register, Brazilian script kiddie arrested in Japan, 4 Nov 03:

Posted by: Gary / 10:28 AM

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Arts | British Library archives websites, 31 Oct 03"he archive will comprise selective "harvesting" from the 2.9 million sites that have "co.uk" suffixes." It will be interesting to see the approach to this archiving issue, in relation to Islamic sites.

Posted by: Gary / 2:17 PM

DeadBrain - Muslim Man Exploits Ramadan Loophole, Gets Out of Fasting satirical page, raising an interesting technicality(!)

VOANews.com, Saudi Police Arrest Muslim Militants in Mecca, 4 Nov 03

The Register, Israeli man charged with hacking Mossad, 4 Nov 03 "An Israeli man has been arrested over accusations he hacked into a recruitment web site run by Mossad, Israel's main intelligence agency."

Middle East Online, Two Iraqi women tie knot with American GIs They are communicating using e-mail.

Gulf Today "The Emirates Internet and Multimedia (EIM) will show a live video stream of this year's Dubai International Holy Quran Awards on an online site dedicated to the Holy Quran and related Islamic topics, it was announced." Here is the link to the Dubai International Holy Quran award.

albawaba.com: A Small Glimpse into Nasrallah's World Substantial biographical profile of the Hizbullah leader.

Khilafah.com - The Revolution Was Not Televised well, this one got in initially for the headline, a Gil Scott Heron reference(!), although the article itself makes interesting reading (I don't write this stuff myself):

"Islam is not the only religion to have a militant, fundamentalist Taliban wing making up part of the whole. In America, the Taliban wing of Christianity has assumed power. The banner at that 'patriot' rally captures the essence of these frightening extremists: Supporting Bush is placed on the same level as worshipping Jesus, and shot through the middle is the steel fist of weapons and war. September 11 has been refashioned by the Christian Taliban as a rallying cry for an end-times death match against Islam, a rallying cry that obscures the orgasm of profiteering that is taking place behind the scenes."

Khilafah.com/newsinsight.net
- CIA to set up anti-jihad cell, 1 Nov 03

Kuwaittimes.net, MTC-Vodafone's SMS games Ramadan spirit: "MTC-Vodafone's entertainment programme for the Holy month of Ramadan is continuing and for the first time in Kuwait customers are being introduced to the Adventures of Joha using SMS. Joha's Adventures are full of fun and joy and if a customer gives a correct answer they will have an opportunity, every day, to win a Nokia 6800 with eeZee gold line plus many other prizes and giveaways. The daily Prize draws will take place at 12.30pm from the MTC-Vodafone booth in Souk Sharq culminating in a Grand Draw in Eid for the prize of a 2003 BMW X5.

"The content of the game revolves around Ajeeb, Joha's son who has decided it is time he married. His father, Joha and mother, Fadah, are so happy to hear about this commitment but the real adventure unfolds as they need help in finding the right bride."

An interesting defiition of "Ramadan spirit'.

Wired News: U.K. Plans to Extradite Spammers, Oct 30 03: "British lawmakers plan to use a new tactic to stop the torrent of junk e-mail spam that floods in from overseas: extraditing the mass-mailers and bringing them to trial in the United Kingdom. "

Newsday.com - Countering A Negative View of Islam, 1 Nov 03: "The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began this week. I've tried my best not to judge Islam and Muslims negatively, but I'm having trouble." Can Newsday's 'God Squad' - a Rabbi and a Priest - answer this question from a reader?