Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Young Saudis, Bound by Conservative Strictures, Find Freedom on Their Phones
NY Times, Young Saudis, Bound by Conservative Strictures, Find Freedom on Their Phones "Being increasingly wired, however, will not necessarily bring Western-style liberalization. Religious conservatives use social media as adeptly as liberals, and many young Saudis remain committed to and proud of their culture. Even those who want change say it must come gradually."
Iranian Cartoon Contest Lampoons IS, Alleged Backers
RFE/RL, Iranian Cartoon Contest Lampoons IS, Alleged Backers "A man with a long dark beard sits immersed in blood in a bathtub shaped like the map of Iraq. A machine gun is propped against the wall behind him."
Jihadi threat requires move into 'private space' of UK Muslims, says police chief
Guardian, Jihadi threat requires move into 'private space' of UK Muslims, says police chief "Islamist propaganda is so potent it is influencing children as young as five and should be countered with intensified monitoring to detect the earliest signs of anti-western sentiment, Britain’s most senior Muslim police chief has warned."
Skyping with the enemy: I went undercover as a jihadi girlfriend
Guardian, Skyping with the enemy: I went undercover as a jihadi girlfriend "When a French journalist posed online as a young woman interested in Isis, she was soon contacted by a fighter in Syria. He proposed marriage – but could she maintain a double life?"
Inside Jordan's fight against home-grown extremism
Inside Jordan's fight against home-grown extremism - BBC News "Jordan is getting a lot of technical help behind the scenes from British counter-terrorism agencies.
"But it has also developed its own mobile phone app, called "Jordan Knights", so young Jordanians can report any suspicious sightings.
""We want to improve our tools to meet the language of the new generation," says Col Rashid from Jordan's Special Branch. "So this application... can be easily used to report any single information by text or by recording or by voice message or by taking a snapshot and sending it to us""
"But it has also developed its own mobile phone app, called "Jordan Knights", so young Jordanians can report any suspicious sightings.
""We want to improve our tools to meet the language of the new generation," says Col Rashid from Jordan's Special Branch. "So this application... can be easily used to report any single information by text or by recording or by voice message or by taking a snapshot and sending it to us""
Friday, May 22, 2015
Saudi Girls Finally Get to Drive, but Only in a Videogame
wsj.com, Saudi Girls Finally Get to Drive, but Only in a Videogame "“Saudi Girls Revolution” is slated for release on the Apple Inc. and Google Inc. app stores sometime later this year. It will be free to download and paired with a digital comic book that tells the back stories of the eight heroines."
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Bin Ladin's Bookshelf
ODNI, Bin Ladin's Bookshelf "On May 20, 2015, the ODNI released a sizeable tranche of documents recovered during the raid on the compound used to hide Usama bin Ladin. The release, which followed a rigorous interagency review, aligns with the President’s call for increased transparency–consistent with national security prerogatives–and the 2014 Intelligence Authorization Act, which required the ODNI to conduct a review of the documents for release."
Also see ABC News, Terror Files: What’s on Osama Bin Laden’s Private Bookshelf’ "The material includes think tank reports, software and technical manuals for computer programs, and Arabic-language letters to bin Laden’s apparent associates, including other suspected terrorists wanted by the U.S. In releasing the documents, the ODNI said they are only publishing those which “will not hurt ongoing operations against al-Qa‘ida [al Qaeda] or their affiliates.”"
Peter Bergen, CNN, Secrets of the bin Laden treasure-trove "Bin Laden was a meticulous editor, and some of the memos he wrote were revised as many as 50 times. Of the thousands of versions of documents recovered from computers and digital media that the SEALs retrieved at bin Laden's compound, the final tally numbers several hundred documents.
"The new documents show how bin Laden reacted to the events of the Arab Spring, which was roiling the Middle East in the months before his death. While bin Laden had nothing to say publicly about the momentous events in the Middle East, privately he wrote lengthy memos analyzing what was happening, pointing to the "new factor" of "the information technology revolution" that had helped spur the revolutions and characterizing them as "the most important events" in the Muslim world "in centuries."
Also see ABC News, Terror Files: What’s on Osama Bin Laden’s Private Bookshelf’ "The material includes think tank reports, software and technical manuals for computer programs, and Arabic-language letters to bin Laden’s apparent associates, including other suspected terrorists wanted by the U.S. In releasing the documents, the ODNI said they are only publishing those which “will not hurt ongoing operations against al-Qa‘ida [al Qaeda] or their affiliates.”"
Peter Bergen, CNN, Secrets of the bin Laden treasure-trove "Bin Laden was a meticulous editor, and some of the memos he wrote were revised as many as 50 times. Of the thousands of versions of documents recovered from computers and digital media that the SEALs retrieved at bin Laden's compound, the final tally numbers several hundred documents.
"The new documents show how bin Laden reacted to the events of the Arab Spring, which was roiling the Middle East in the months before his death. While bin Laden had nothing to say publicly about the momentous events in the Middle East, privately he wrote lengthy memos analyzing what was happening, pointing to the "new factor" of "the information technology revolution" that had helped spur the revolutions and characterizing them as "the most important events" in the Muslim world "in centuries."
ISIS Is Trying to Lure British Recruits with Cappuccinos
munchies.vice.com, ISIS Is Trying to Lure British Recruits with Cappuccinos "A Brief Guide to the Islamic State 2015 by Abu Rumaysah al Britani, the “Walthamstow jihadi” who escaped to Syria via a Paris-bound coach after being arrested on suspicion of terrorism last year, is being circulated on social media by ISIS sympathisers."
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Monday, May 18, 2015
"Contextualizing Islam in Europe and North America"
brookings.edu, Contextualizing Islam in Europe and North America: Challenges and Opportunities "The Working Group “Muslim Communities in Europe & North America: A Transatlantic Dialogue on Contextualized Religion” convened scholars, civil society actors, and community leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss the nature and significance of key challenges in achieving a contextualized understanding of their religion that is suited to the unique circumstances, challenges, and opportunities that face religious minorities in contemporary Western societies." I have yet to read the findings of this report, which is available in English and Arabic.
Profiling 'female foreign fighters'
SMH, Why many local Muslim women will never turn to terror "Audrey Alexander, a research associate at London's International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation, monitors the online comments of dozens of women who have travelled overseas to support IS, or are planning to. She says there is no one profile for women who become 'female foreign fighters'." This article has a focus on Australia.
E-terrorism targeting 17 million in Saudi Arabia, says expert
ara.tv, E-terrorism targeting 17 million in Saudi Arabia, says expert "Hassan Al-Daajah was quoted by Al-Watan as saying that there are more than 46,000 websites supporting ISIS.
“When we find that about 17 million Saudi men and women are using the Internet, we will realize the magnitude of the electronic danger threatening our society,” he said. He warned that if the concerned authorities in the Kingdom do not move fast, the possibility of ISIS influencing society would become greater.
“When we find that about 17 million Saudi men and women are using the Internet, we will realize the magnitude of the electronic danger threatening our society,” he said. He warned that if the concerned authorities in the Kingdom do not move fast, the possibility of ISIS influencing society would become greater.
How Berlin Muslims are tackling jihad
themalaymailonline.com, How Berlin Muslims are tackling jihad " Security services say it’s crucial that imams and Muslim families help combat extremism in a way they can’t, even if that means they are blamed inside their communities for selling out — while at the same time confronted by growing animosity toward Islam in their adopted homelands.
Losing their religion: The hidden crisis of faith among Britain’s young Muslims
Guardian, Losing their religion: The hidden crisis of faith among Britain’s young Muslims "As debate rages over the radicalisation of young British Muslims, are we overlooking a different crisis of faith? Ex-Muslims who dare to speak out are often cut off by their families and fear for their lives. A brave few tell us their stories." Internet sub-text within this.
Senior cleric denounces former Egyptian president's death sentence as 'nonsense'
Independent, Senior cleric denounces former Egyptian president's death sentence as 'nonsense' "Sheikh Youssef al-Qaradawi, who is the spiritual leader of the brotherhood and based in Qatar, posted a video statement on his Twitter account claiming the sentences violated Islamic law."
War with Isis
Patrick Cockburn, Independent, War with Isis: The grim reality of life under the Islamist group in Iraq "In part two of this special series of dispatches, Patrick Cockburn explains how the group is tightening its grip on Fallujah and encouraging people to denounce their neighbours."
Friday, May 15, 2015
Digital age poses a new challenge to Iran's relentless book censors
Saeed Kamali Dehghan, Guardian, Digital age poses a new challenge to Iran's relentless book censors "Rouhani’s culture minister, Ali Jannati, said in 2013 that if the “Qu’ran was not sent from God, Iranian censors would have rejected it”. In a recent speech, he admitted that Iran’s policy of filtering the internet or blocking satellite channels had proved futile. “It’s like blocking the entire highway for the violation of a few cars,” he said. “The best way to control public opinion is to go with it not to fight it.”"
Thursday, May 14, 2015
ISIS manual endorses controversial pressure group Cage
Daily Mail, ISIS manual endorses controversial pressure group Cage "How To Survive In The West advises that jihadis use Cage’s website for tips on dealing with surveillance, raids and interrogations."
Three British teenage Jihadi brides are now on the run from Isis
Daily Mail, Three British teenage Jihadi brides are now on the run from Isis
"Home Secretary Theresa May has suggested three British schoolgirls
believed to have escaped the clutches of ISIS may not be allowed back
into the UK even if they manage to return."
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
ISIS
RT.com, Gay Muslim men joining ISIS risk execution – reports "Shunned in British Muslim communities due to intolerance, gay Muslim men could be driven to join ISIS, reports suggest. As homosexuality is considered a sin by the militants, these men could face execution if their sexuality is revealed.
"The Times reports that a British jihadist fighter has exchanged intimate, homosexual messages with other militants. The correspondence was uncovered during a counter-terrorism investigation."
"The Times reports that a British jihadist fighter has exchanged intimate, homosexual messages with other militants. The correspondence was uncovered during a counter-terrorism investigation."
Friday, May 08, 2015
Islamic website aimed at young Emiratis would provide relationship guidance | The National
Islamic website aimed at young Emiratis would provide relationship guidance | The National "As part of the forum’s aim to battle the online influence of violent extremists, the project Haqqathon (Haqq meaning truth in Arabic) tasked five groups to create viable ways of fusing technology and faith to bridge the gap between Islamic scholars and young people.
"One of the groups decided to create an Islamic sex-education website and app called “Marhubba”."
Also see Muslim hero site is top Islamic app, The National
"One of the groups decided to create an Islamic sex-education website and app called “Marhubba”."
Also see Muslim hero site is top Islamic app, The National
Young Muslims Are Inviting You to Draw Muhammad
Time.com, Young Muslims Are Inviting You to Draw Muhammad "Muslim American activist Amani al-Khatahtbeh, who runs the popular blog MuslimGirl.net, is fighting Islamaphobia by inviting people to draw a picture of their friends who are called Muhammad."
The Islamic State's Social Media Machine
The Islamic State's Social Media Machine, The Islamic State's Social Media Machine, The Documentary - BBC World Service "In part one Dominic Casciani explores the way the so called Islamic State use social media to recruit people to their cause, and what can be done combat this. Dominic travels to Canada to meet a mother whose son was recruited by IS and executed by the FSA, and the police chief who says a lot more needs to be done to counter IS online." Haven't heard this yet. And here is Part Two
How Moscow’s migrant workers are being recruited to Isis
Guardian, How Moscow’s migrant workers are being recruited to Isis "Up to 4,000 central Asian migrants are said to have travelled to Syria after being recruited by Chechens in Moscow. Daniil Turovsky reports"
Prayer, food, sex and water parks in Iran's holy city of Mashhad
Tehran Bureau, Guardian, Prayer, food, sex and water parks in Iran's holy city of Mashhad "According to SMT’s estimates, every pilgrim visiting Mashhad spends roughly $1,500 (£990) in the city, meaning that the 345,000 who visit Mashhad every year spend $517m (£342m) altogether. However, government figures suggest that the number of Iraqi visitors to Mashhad could be much higher, as in 2014 Saeed Ohadi, president of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Association, a department in the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, said that 1.3 million Iraqi pilgrims visit Iran each year."
Micah Robbins: 'Re-locating Middle East Studies Conference Roundup'
Micah Robbins, Re-locating Middle East Studies Conference Roundup, 7 May 2015 This is an informed and comprehensive summary of this conference, which was very enjoyable to participate in. [posted retrospectively]
Friday, May 01, 2015
‘Haqqathon’ builds apps for Islamic youth
‘Haqqathon’ builds apps for Islamic youth | The National "An app that provides short video answers to youths’ questions on Islam is just one idea from a forum aimed at battling the online influence of violent extremists."
ISIS film shows Yemen killings
ara.tv, ISIS film shows Yemen killings "A new branch of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group in Yemen on Thursday issued a video showing what it said was the beheading of four Yemeni soldiers and the shooting of 10 others, the SITE Intelligence group reported."
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Isis: Humour and satire can defeat Islamic State says US ambassador to UN Samantha Power
IB Times, Isis: Humour and satire can defeat Islamic State says US ambassador to UN Samantha Power "The US ambassador to the United Nations said humour and satire are among the best means of countering the attempts by jihadist group Islamic State (Isis, Isil) to recruit young people."
Boston bomber's lawyers focus on brother's obsession with Islam
Yahoo! News, Boston bomber's lawyers focus on brother's obsession with Islam " Digital forensics expert Mark Spencer also testified on Tuesday that a computer registered to Tamerlan’s widow, Katherine Russell, showed Internet searches in early 2012 that included "If your husband becomes a shaheed what are the rewards for you?" and "Rewards for wife of mujahideen.""
Viewpoint: Who are the people in the dark corners?
Viewpoint: Who are the people in the dark corners? - BBC News "There are many types of people who have been demonised in the age of social media - computer users who take refuge in anonymity to post extreme or offensive views. Jamie Bartlett wanted to talk to the people behind the masks."
Friday, April 24, 2015
Al Qaeda’s American Dream Ends
J.M. Berger, Politico, Al Qaeda’s American Dream Ends "The death of Adam Gadahn closes a chapter. Al Qaeda’s array of American recruits once inspired alarm at the highest levels of government; today they are a spent force."
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
"Re-locating Middle East Studies: New Geographies of Discourse"
I'm back on the blog, after a brief break. So some of the posts below represent 'catch-up' mode. I was in Dubai, where I gave a keynote on 'Interpreting Cyber Islamic Environments'. This was part of the BRISMES/American University in Dubai's conference "Re-locating Middle East Studies: New Geographies of Discourse". It was an enjoyable event. In relation to this blog, there were several presentations very relevant to my research area. These included: Bruce Stanley on "(Re) Locating the Middle East's Armature: Thinking City Networks; Kristin Kamoy with "#UAE: Do Emirati Youth Change the Cultural Game with Social Media"; Tim Jacoby on "(Mis) Representing the Sunni Uprising in Iraq; Nadia Wardeh and Fadi Haddad on "Towards the "social media generation"; Micah Robbins on graphic novels and web comics. Thanks to the organisers and participants for an interesting event.
Halal Sex Shop Opening For Muslims In Mecca, Saudi Arabia: Report
IB Times, Halal Sex Shop Opening For Muslims In Mecca, Saudi Arabia: Report "With the help of German company Beate Uhse, one of the largest sex product vendors in Europe, Aouragh is reportedly selling 18 Islam-appropriate sex toys in his Mecca store." [report requires substantiation]
Syrian Blogger Stabbed
Syrian Blogger Stabbed in His Istanbul Home After Receiving Threats Online · Global Voices "Syrian blogger and journalist Assad Hanna, who is also a Global Voices author, was attacked and stabbed four times in the stomach in his home in Istanbul, Turkey, last night."
Gone Girl: An Interview With An American In ISIS
Ellie Hall, buzzfeed.com, Gone Girl: An Interview With An American In ISIS " Why would an American college student run away to Syria and join ISIS? Meet Hoda, a 20-year-old woman from Alabama — and the devastated father she left behind." I thought this was an excellent article.
Isis video
Guardian, Isis video purports to show massacre of two groups of Ethiopian Christians "Islamic State footage features rant against Christian crusaders, and shows 15 men beheaded on beach and another 15 shot in the head in scrubland."
The Advantages of Being an Arab Gamer: Destructoid
The Advantages of Being an Arab Gamer: Destructoid "Gamers are often ridiculed and shunned by a larger society much too concerned about their public image. As for Arabs, no one has been as a vilified by the US media as much as us in the past 15 years.
"Thankfully, I don’t live in the US and hence have no reason to worry about being a gamer or an Arab. Unless I am the wrong kind of Arab, in which case we are probably at war.
"Here are the advantages of being an Arab Gamer, in no particular order."
"Thankfully, I don’t live in the US and hence have no reason to worry about being a gamer or an Arab. Unless I am the wrong kind of Arab, in which case we are probably at war.
"Here are the advantages of being an Arab Gamer, in no particular order."
SHARIASource digital platform
Harvard Islamic Legal Studies Program launches SHARIASource digital platform | Harvard Magazine May-Jun 2015 "A simple Google search for the word “sharia” illustrates the magnitude of the gap Harvard Law School (HLS) professor Intisar A. Rabb wants to fill. Up top, there’s a 2,000-word overview from the Council on Foreign Relations, along with the usual Wikipedia link. But even on that first page of results, there’s also a far less neutral take from a Christian missionary website, and an alarmist article on sharia law in Dearborn, Michigan, that on further investigation turns out to come from the satirical news site National Report."
Digital Islamic services set for take off
Digital Islamic services set for take off | The National "In 2015, digital Islamic services should reach an inflection point and start to take off across the Middle East region, a major development highlighted in Deloitte’s latest technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) predictions report for the Middle East." Information on the report is here
Lonely women are potential Islamic State recruits, minister says
themalaymailonline.com, Lonely women are potential Islamic State recruits, minister says "Lonely women who spend a lot of time on social media risk being seduced into joining the Islamic State (IS) militant movement, a minister said today."
Islamic State And Its Online Recruitment Formula
eurasiareview.com, Islamic State And Its Online Recruitment Formula - Analysis "Why is Islamic State (IS) so effective at recruitment, especially in the online realm? Recent discussions glean some insights for the Singapore and Southeast Asia context."
Teenager accused of copycat Lee Rigby plot 'trawled al-Qaida propaganda'
Guardian, Teenager accused of copycat Lee Rigby plot 'trawled al-Qaida propaganda' "Kazi Islam, who denies grooming a vulnerable young man to attack soldiers, had downloaded instructions on how to make explosives, Old Bailey told."
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Washiqur Rahman: Secular blogger killed in Bangladesh
Washiqur Rahman: Secular blogger killed in Bangladesh - CNN.com "When American writer Avijit Roy was hacked to death on a Dhaka, Bangladesh, street in full view of horrified onlookers, blogger Washiqur Rahman doubled down.
"Fundamentalists were choking free thought in his secular nation, he wrote. But they couldn't silence it."
"Fundamentalists were choking free thought in his secular nation, he wrote. But they couldn't silence it."
Mosul under ISIL: 'No internet, no shaving'
aljazeera.com, Mosul under ISIL: 'No internet, no shaving' "Worried that functioning telecommunications systems might help its enemies reach out to dissidents within Mosul, ISIL also shut down telephone and internet services in December. That deepened the sense of isolation that many residents already felt."
ISIS followers send ‘up to 100,000 tweets a day’ warns EU police chief
alarabiya.net, ISIS followers send ‘up to 100,000 tweets a day’ warns EU police chief "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) supporters are sending up to 100,000 messages a day on social networking site Twitter to plan attacks, the European Union’s law enforcement agency chief has warned."
Friday, March 27, 2015
Court Blocks Jihadist Website Used to Recruit Turks to Islamic State
NY Times, Court Blocks Jihadist Website Used to Recruit Turks to Islamic State "A website popular with jihadists that has been used to recruit Turks to the Islamic State was blocked by a court here on Wednesday, after years of publishing extreme Islamist content and evading Turkey’s strict Internet regulations."
Pro-ISIS magazine in Istanbul bombed
Pro-ISIS magazine in Istanbul bombed - CNN.com "The magazine "Adimlar" regularly publishes angry anti-American content, including articles that celebrate convicted Venezuelan terrorist Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, better known as "Carlos the Jackal.""
Haqiqah Launched
imamsonline.com, Haqiqah – What is the Truth Behind ISIS? links to a new online magazine. Also see BBC News, Imams try to 'reclaim the internet' with Haqiqah magazine
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Arab Coalition Bombs Yemen, Attacks The Houthis
vocativ.com, Arab Coalition Bombs Yemen, Attacks The Houthis "The Houthi rebels responded on their social media pages, replying that “Yemen will become a cemetery for the invaders.” They posted graphic images of children allegedly killed by the allied airstrikes, along with threats to invade the Saudi kingdom."
IS 'CyberCaliphate' Hacking
RFE/RL, IS 'CyberCaliphate' Hacked 600 Russian Websites In 2014, Security Company Says "According to Group-IB's research, several pro-IS hacking groups appear to have been involved in the attacks on Russian websites. As well as the "CyberCaliphate," the research also found groups calling themselves Team System Dz, Global Islamic Caliphate and FallaGa Team were involved in the hacks."
Italy arrests three suspected ISIS militants
alarabiya.net, Italy arrests three suspected ISIS militants " One of the three, a 20-year-old Italian with Moroccan roots, is suspected of being the author of a 64-page Italian-language document which outlines the goals and principles of the Islamic State group and has been circulated on the Internet and social networks."
The Britons signing up for Jihad
Dominic Casciani, BBC News, The Britons signing up for Jihad "BBC News has been tracking the story of these men and women - and boys and girls - for the past few months in an attempt to map the scale of the jihad in Syria and Iraq."
The Counterrevolution Will Be Televised: Propaganda and Egyptian Television since the Revolution
Arab Media & Society new issue out now. Including: The Counterrevolution Will Be Televised: Propaganda and Egyptian Television since the RevolutionAbstract: "In a concise and critical read, Amr Khalifa draws attention to the Egyptian state’s influence on shaping the narratives propagated by national and local media, particularly television. Using initial coverage of the 2011 Revolution as a jumping off point, Khalifa argues that the same mechanisms for controlling the media have been used and reused by successive governments and examines new limitations on freedom of expression, which he argues are morestringent than the tight control seen under Gamal Abdel Nasser."
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Is this the most dangerous Isis propaganda?
Independent, Is this the most dangerous Isis propaganda? "
Much attention is paid to the extreme, distressing and sadistic propaganda disseminated by Isis, who go to great lengths to circulate violent images and videos of the atrocities it commits.
"Yet little attention is paid to what could arguably be considered to be the most dangerous propaganda emerging from the group – the pictures and videos that attempt to normalise and even glamorise life within Isis. It is these pictures that are used as a recruiting tool for the extremist group."
Much attention is paid to the extreme, distressing and sadistic propaganda disseminated by Isis, who go to great lengths to circulate violent images and videos of the atrocities it commits.
"Yet little attention is paid to what could arguably be considered to be the most dangerous propaganda emerging from the group – the pictures and videos that attempt to normalise and even glamorise life within Isis. It is these pictures that are used as a recruiting tool for the extremist group."
The 40 Most Innovative Global Muslim Startups 2015
Ummah Wide, The 40 Most Innovative Global Muslim Startups 2015 - Towards A Global Muslim Startup Ecology very interesting listing, with some specific apps and IT related concepts in the mix.
It's Sunnah To Swipe With Your Right Hand
buzzfeed.com, Community Post: It's Sunnah To Swipe With Your Right Hand: The Muslim Spouse Search Goes Mobile " If you’re a single Muslim in North America, you know the thirst is real. Well, you can finally leave the ISNA hotel lobby. (Seriously, it’s past 5 a.m.) At least four matchmaking (yes, matchmaking, because “dating” would be too scandalous for your parents) apps for single young Muslims plan to launch this month and save you from a future as “cat aunty” or “creepy uncle.”"
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Dark web spurs spying 'arms race'
BBC News, Dark web spurs spying 'arms race' "The more people who use it, the easier, in theory, it will be for terrorists to hide their own messages amongst its terabytes of data. But the dark web does have benign uses and while it presents a growing challenge to counter-terrorism authorities this is a phenomenon that is unlikely to disappear anytime soon."
The Use of the Internet by Islamic State in Syria
Nico Prucha, War Studies, King's College - The Use of the Internet by Islamic State in Syria
[scroll down for the sound file]. I have yet to listen to this.
Prisons and radicalization in France
Farhad Khosrokhavar, opendemocracy.net, Prisons and radicalization in France "The two terrorist attacks that caused 17 deaths among the French people were the results of a radicalization that bears four main features. The people who perpetrated them were from the French poor suburbs, the so-called banlieues, where there is a concentration of populations mostly of North African origins, with a higher rate of joblessness and criminality, and a deeply antagonistic attitude of its male youth towards the rest of the society.
"Many spend part of their youth in the prisons and those who become Jihadists are "born again" Muslims with no previous Islamic culture, having gone through a deep up rootedness in terms of their cultural identity before being attracted towards Radical Islam by a guru, through Internet or the influence of their buddies."
"Many spend part of their youth in the prisons and those who become Jihadists are "born again" Muslims with no previous Islamic culture, having gone through a deep up rootedness in terms of their cultural identity before being attracted towards Radical Islam by a guru, through Internet or the influence of their buddies."
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Mothers living under ISIS share photos of children posing with guns
Mail Online, Mothers living under ISIS share photos of children posing with guns "Depraved mothers who gave up their lives in the West to live under the rule of Islamic State terrorists in Syria are taking photographs of their newborn children sleeping alongside handguns and assault rifles in a sickening game of one-upmanship on social media."
Assad’s Atrocities, ISIS Executions Are Threatening Syria’s Activist Storytellers With Disappearance
raqqa-sl.com, Assad’s Atrocities, ISIS Executions Are Threatening Syria’s Activist Storytellers With Disappearance "With more than 36,000 followers on Facebook and more than 20,000 on Twitter, Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently provides daily updates on ISIS movement in Raqqa, U.S.-led coalition airstrikes, the horrors of civilian life under ISIS rule — and has even provided information on ISIS hostages, most of whom were kept and killed in Raqqa. Throughout its activity for most of Syria’s civil war, now in its fourth year, the group’s members learned to work in secret."
Isis: Foreign fighters 'live like kings'
IB Times, Isis: Foreign fighters 'live like kings' in Syrian Raqqa stronghold of Islamic State "Foreign Islamist fighers in Al-Raqqa are living in the best houses with free electricity and health care and treating local Syrians "like slaves", according to an activist living in the Islamic State (Isis) stronghold."
Islamism in the IS age
Marc Lynch, Islamism in the IS age "The “IS-ification of Islamist politics,” in Khalil al-Anani’s felicitous phrase, has reshaped the ideological and strategic incentives for Islamist groups and their adversaries. It has also posed a new challenge to the categories, concepts and expectations of the academics who study them. In January, the Project on Middle East Political Science brought together more than a dozen leading scholars of Islamist movements to discuss the Islamic State and its effects on the broader terrain of Islamist politics. Some of the papers prepared for that workshop have been published on The Monkey Cage already and all are now collected into a new edition in the POMEPS Studies series “Islamism in the IS Age,” available for free download here."
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