Facial recognition

Arwa Mahdawi, Guardian, Finding your museum doppelganger is fun – but the science behind it is scary not available in the UK yet: "Facial recognition technology allows Google to find the artwork you most resemble – but it also supports the rise of the surveillance state."

A New American Leader Rises in ISIS

Atlantic, A New American Leader Rises in ISIS "A two-year investigation identifies one of the very few Americans in the Islamic State’s upper ranks—and sheds light on the dynamics of radicalization."

Alt-right net

Amerlia Tait, New Statesman, “Let’s colonise MySpace!”: inside the alt-right’s internet " Gab is a social media platform just like Facebook or Twitter – except in the crucial ways it is not. Founded to take on “the left-leaning Big Social monopoly”, Gab prides itself on its dedication to free speech. As a result, much of the far-right is attracted to the site, with many migrating there after Twitter banned neo-Nazis from its platform in December."

Sticking a Pin into the Inflated Castle of Knowledge about Islam

Here's an interesting article by Mona Abdel-Fadil which (among several themes) refers to studies of ijtihad: Religion Going Public, Sticking a Pin into the Inflated Castle of Knowledge about Islam

Financial Desperation Leads ISIS to Sell Its Own Coins Online

algemeiner.com, Financial Desperation Leads ISIS to Sell Its Own Coins Online, 14 Jan 2018 "Facing financial setbacks, the Islamic State (ISIS) is turning to more unorthodox methods for raising money: selling its own currency on the web. A new Meir Amit Intelligence and Information Terrorism Center report cites an ISIS publication from last month, touting the terrorist group’s minted coins." Note: this article was written by Steven Emerson, and draws on information from the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center At the Israeli Intelligence Heritage and Commemoration Center.

Iranian regime's 'halal' internet stifling protest

Alexander J Martin, Sky News, Iranian regime's 'halal' internet stifling protest, 11 Jan 2018 "When Iranians protested in the streets to express their frustrations with the country's clerical regime, the first casualty of the demonstrations was their ability to freely receive and transmit information."

Bassem Youssef

Bassem Youssef: The wild story of ‘Egypt’s Jon Stewart’

IS 'Virtual Caliphate'

ChannelNewsAsia/AFP, Islamic State retreats online to 'virtual caliphate' "On the brink of defeat in Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State group has been taking refuge in its "virtual caliphate" - but even online, experts say it is in decline." opinion

Salafi satorial choices

Moses E. Ochonu, Mail & Guardian/The Conversation, Why the sartorial choices of Salafi clerics sparked a debate on morality in Nigeria, 11 Jan 2018 " The debate about modernity, Islam, and morality has migrated to online platforms because the internet is relatively anonymous. This has given both sides greater freedom to express their views. The debate encapsulates the ongoing ideological struggle in northern Nigerian Islam between those who live and defend a modern lifestyle, and those suspicious of Western modernity and the unmediated influence of Western education and culture."

House of Saud: A Family at War

Initial reaction to House of Saud: A Family at War, broadcast on BBC2 this week (and available on iPlayer).

This relates to episode one. I haven't viewed it all yet, but was interested to see its coverage of Bosnia. See the reviews here: Telegraph, House of Saud: A Family at War, review: an eye-opening documentary that lifted the lid on Saudi Arabia and terrorism and Independent, TV Review (second section).

I'm looking forward to seeing the remainder of the series, and to reading further comments on the programme from regional experts.

Mental health issues

Yonat Shimron, RNS, How US mosques are dealing with Muslims’ mental health issues, 9 Jan 2018 "A year ago, a group of mental health experts who are also mosque members agreed to volunteer their time to provide the service. Members can now go online and pick from among six mental health experts — including a family therapist, chaplain and a substance abuse counselor — for a free and confidential session."

Pakistan: #JusticeForZainab

aljazeera, Parents of raped and murdered girl, 7, seek justice 

Background on the awful circumstances linked to #JusticeForZainab.

The JusticeForZainab hashtag is trending.

The Yemeni Bride

al-Monitor, Graphic novel brings human side of Yemen to life
"Battaglia’s account is based not just on personal impressions, but also thorough research and interviews. Each story is depicted in a color indicating its theme: There is red for daily life events, blue for on-the-ground reporting on complex issues, and yellow for spirituality and the comparing of Eastern and Western values." Details of the Italian version are here

Malaysian election

Asia Times, In election mode, Najib bids to shine online, 10 Jan 2018, "The coalition’s move is belated recognition of the power of online and social media in swaying public opinion and capturing votes after recent poor showings at the polls, including a loss of the popular vote in 2013."

See therakyat.com
(screenshot left)

Cyber Vigilantes & Hacktivists - opinion and analysis

The Cipher Brief, Cyber Vigilantes & Hacktivists: Double-Edged Sword Against ISIS - opinion/analysis "Cyber vigilantes and “hacktivists” increasingly fill the void left by governments in combating terrorist activity online. While such politically motivated non-state hackers are relatively effective at removing the presence of terrorist content, their continued operations could damage overall counterterrorism efforts by undermining intelligence operations – say by taking down a website that the CIA or NSA is monitoring. By letting these groups run loose – if even for a noble cause – the U.S. risks undermining international norms of cyber operations among states by legitimizing the phenomenon of “patriotic hackers” used as proxies by governments engaging in deniable operations."

Massachusetts - radicalisation case

Everett Independent, Everett Man Sentenced for Supporting ISIS and Conspiring to Behead U.S. Citizens, 10 Jan 2018 "Beginning in at least February 2015, Wright [David Daoud Wright] began discussing ISIS’ call to kill non-believers in the United States with his uncle, Usaamah Abdullah Rahim, and co-defendant Nicholas Alexander Rovinski. Specifically, Wright created a “martyrdom” operation cell in Massachusetts. In April 2015, he created a Twitter page for the “Lions of America” and published a document entitled, Internal Conquest, on the internet in which Wright called on the “Lions of Allah” to kill Americans. Wright also plotted with Rahim and Rovinski to behead U.S. citizens at the direction of ISIS, and identified a New York woman as the first beheading target."

Significance of online materials in radicalisation

Dominic Casciani, BBC News, Derby terror plot: The online Casanova and his lover, 8 Jan 2018 This is a significant case, in relation to the significance of online materials in the radicalisation processes. "A couple who met online have been convicted of preparing for terrorism in a plot that could have attacked Derby or poisoned supermarket food."

About this blog

I've just realised the Virtually Islamic blog is entering its fifteenth year (in current format!). Despite duplicating some of the information on Twitter @garybunt, I find it helpful to have a chronicle of online activities in this way (with other listings of related links going back to the 1990s). I've been using it as I edit my book as well, although some of the older links have evaporated. I'm planning a revamp of my web activities this year when I launch the new book - but will continue to integrate the blog into things in some manner. I hope some of you find it useful.

Virtual Caliphate Rebooted

Charlie Winter, Jade Parker, lawfareblog.com, Virtual Caliphate Rebooted: The Islamic State’s Evolving Online Strategy, 7 Jan 2018 "The Islamic State’s territorial expansion and burgeoning online presence seemed to rise together. As the group lost territory, however, its online presence evolved. Jade Parker and Charlie Winter, two leading analysts of the Islamic State’s propaganda machine, describe how the group’s propaganda production has changed in the post-Caliphate era and how we can prepare for the next round."

Fire & Fury & Jihad

On Twitter, @Jihadoscope noted 'Fire & Fury' is being linked to on some IS-oriented forums: "Release of #FireAndFury perks interest of jihadis online as pro-ISIS Telegram channels share multiple download links of a pirated eBook version touting "scandals of infidel Trump and apostate Arabs".

The anatomy of terrorist financing

Mobile payments discussed here in: Manila Times, The anatomy of terrorist financing "Experts say the threat of mobile payment systems being used by terrorist groups within the Philippines is rooted in the absence of a national ID system. Currently, all telecom companies accept any one valid ID for registration purposes."

Singapore + Net

Today, Giving platform to radical foreign preachers not in Singapore’s national interest: Shanmugam", 8 Jan 2018 Responding to Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad’s question on the effectiveness of banning such preachers given that their teachings could be accessed through the Internet, Mr Shanmugam acknowledged that there are “limits” to which the Government can prevent access."

LGBT radio goes online in Tunisia despite threats

Daily Nation, LGBT radio goes online in Tunisia despite threats, 19 Dec 2017 "An online radio station catering for the LGBT community, believed to be the first of its kind in the Arab world, started broadcasting in Tunisia on Monday." Just picked up this from last month.

Indonesia Launches Cyber Agency to Tackle Extremism, Fake News

News 18. Indonesia Launches Cyber Agency to Tackle Extremism, Fake News "One of the most high-profile cases in recent times was a false claim circulating on social media in December that Beijing was seeking to wage biological warfare against Indonesia."

Iran cyber issues

The Slate/Future Tense, Netizen Report: Iranian Authorities Blocking International Web Traffic, Messaging Platforms

In related news:

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Iran’s Cyber Threat: Espionage, Sabotage, and Revenge "Incidents involving Iran have been among the most sophisticated, costly, and consequential attacks in the history of the internet. The four-decade-long U.S.-Iran cold war has increasingly moved into cyberspace, and Tehran has been among the leading targets of uniquely invasive and destructive cyber operations by the United States and its allies. At the same time, Tehran has become increasingly adept at conducting cyber espionage and disruptive attacks against opponents at home and abroad, ranging from Iranian civil society organizations to governmental and commercial institutions in Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United States."

New report by Collin Anderson and Karim Sadjadpour, available to download as a pdf here (English) and here: فارسی

Also see:

Sheera Frenkel, NYT, Iranian Hackers: Sophisticated, Frustrated and a Rising Global Threat

'An incredible transformation': how rehab, not prison, worked for a US Isis convert

Guardian, 'An incredible transformation': how rehab, not prison, worked for a US Isis convert

Facebook Says It Is Deleting Accounts at the Direction of the U.S. and Israeli Governments

Glenn Greenwald, The Intercept, Facebook Says It Is Deleting Accounts at the Direction of the U.S. and Israeli Governments, 30 Dec 2017 "What makes this censorship particularly consequential is that “96 percent of Palestinians said their primary use of Facebook was for following news.” That means that Israeli officials have virtually unfettered control over a key communications forum of Palestinians." Important article from Gleen Greenwald.

Ahed Tamimi

Harriet Sherwood, Guardian, CiF, Palestinian 16-year-old Ahed Tamimi is the latest child victim of Israel’s occupation

Black Music in Europe

Slight digression here, but this programme/series was a radio highlight for me over the holiday period. Two episodes so far - and Peters makes an engaging narrator. It's based on the substantial Bear Family Records' "Black Europe" boxset:  BBC Radio 4, Black Music in Europe: A Hidden History

Madeha Al Ajroush

BBC Radio 4, Her Story Made History: Madeha Al Ajroush "Lyse Doucet travels to Saudi Arabia to meet Madeha Al Ajroush, who battled for 30 years to get women the right to drive. It's a battle she's now won, as women in the kingdom will legally be allowed to drive later this year. As a Saudi woman, she says, "you'll always be treated like a child and never like an adult. And that was a problem, and it continued till this day - but things are opening up now."" Excellent programme.

Iranian Authorities Block Access to Social Media Tools

NYT, Iranian Authorities Block Access to Social Media Tools "As protests in Iran stretched into their sixth day on Tuesday, the Iranian authorities continued to restrict access to social media tools that have become key sources of information to antigovernment demonstrators."

Exploring the cycle of imprisonment in the UK through poetry

This was discussed on @bbc5live with Adrian Chiles this morning, and (along with other films in the series) is worth checking out: Aliyah Hasinah Exploring the cycle of imprisonment in the UK through poetry via @c4randomacts

@darkskinnedhijabis

Ikran Dahir, Buzzfeed, This Woman Created An Instagram Page To Empower Dark-Skinned Muslim Women "Liaden said she has experienced colourism first hand. "As a dark black skin Muslim women myself, I know what it feels like to speak up and be ignored," she said."

For Russian ‘Trolls,’ Instagram’s Pictures Can Spread Wider Than Words

NYT, For Russian ‘Trolls,’ Instagram’s Pictures Can Spread Wider Than Words "The photograph in the post, of a smiling woman wearing a black hijab, seems innocent. But the text around it was crafted to push buttons. This is a woman, readers are warned, who hates everything from Jews and Christians to lesbians and wine — yet she “complains about Islamophobia.”"

NY Attacks

WSJ, After New York Attack, Investigators Ask: Should ISIS Material Be Online?

Independent, New York attack: Terror manuals containing instructions for bomb used by Akayed Ullah remain online "Terrorist manuals showing jihadis how to build the same type of bomb used in last week's New York subway attack remain online amid warnings of further attacks."

How Syria's White Helmets became victims of an online propaganda machine

Guardian, How Syria's White Helmets became victims of an online propaganda machine "The Guardian has uncovered how this counter-narrative is propagated online by a network of anti-imperialist activists, conspiracy theorists and trolls with the support of the Russian government (which provides military support to the Syrian regime)."

Research

Currently looking at:  

ERDEM, B.K. and BILGE, R., 2017. The Announcement of Dar al-Harb in Cyber Media in Context of the Theological Policy of Jihad: Reading the Cyber-Jihad and ISIS based on the Pharmakon Characteristic of the Cyber Media. International Journal of Islamic Thought, 11, pp. 17-29.

Middle East gender inequality is ‘corrupting the region’

Olivia Cuthbert, Arab News, Middle East gender inequality is ‘corrupting the region’ "Failure to narrow the gender gap and confront violence against women in the MENA region is stalling progress and exacerbating crises, according to activists."

Former army interpreter released on bail while fighting for right to remain in the UK

Channel 4, Former army interpreter released on bail while fighting for right to remain in the UK

Book review

Reading Religion, The Study of Religious Experience Approaches and Methodologies 

Book review.  I have a chapter in this volume, which was edited by my colleague Bettina Schmidt.

Poland and the far-right

Steve Rose, Faith Matters, The Changing Face of Hate in Poland: From Antisemitism to Anti-Muslim Racism 

 

 

Faith Matters launches a ground-breaking paper looking at worrying levels of far-right anti-Muslim racism in Poland and anti-Muslim activism in the UK in Polish Communities

Yemen - update

Brookings, In Yemen, Iran outsmarts Saudi Arabia again analysis/opinion

An Iraqi teen turns inward to survive the Islamic State

AP/Times of India, An Iraqi teen turns inward to survive the Islamic State, 4 Dec 2017 " Ferah's story and writings offer a glimpse of the day-to-day struggle to survive under IS. The group's takeover of Mosul plunged her into isolation. Her friends fled the city, as did her two eldest sisters, who were married and had their own families. Ferah stopped going to school, afraid of the girls in her class who identified with Daesh."

Unmasked: Anonymous Historian Leaked Islamic State Secrets

VOA News, Unmasked: Anonymous Historian Leaked Islamic State Secrets "His secrets consume him, sap energy he'd rather use for his doctoral dissertation and for helping Mosul rebuild. In conversations with The Associated Press, he agonized over how to end the anonymity that plagues him. He made his decision."

Peaceful Coexistence Conference

Today I participated in the Ethical Approaches to Peaceful Co-Existence conference, organised by UWTSD, Muslim Council Wales - MCW, and the Knowledge Exchange Programme. My presentation was entitled 'Flaming, Trolls and Memes: Digital Dimensions of Co-existence in Cyberspace'.  I referenced my next book 'Hashtag Islam: How Cyber Islamic Environments are Transforming Religious Authority'.  It has been a full programme today. More information on Twitter @garybunt

Facebook says 99% of IS, Al Qaeda content spotted by AI

Bloomberg/African Independent, Facebook says 99% of IS, Al Qaeda content spotted by AI "Facebook’s artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly adept at keeping terrorist content off the social network, the company has said."

Peaceful Coexistence Conference

I will be participating in this event, giving a short panel panel on anti-Muslim rhetoric online. 

Trump Shares Inflammatory Anti-Muslim Videos (updated)

NY Times, Trump Shares Inflammatory Anti-Muslim Videos, and Britain’s Leader Condemns Them "President Trump shared videos supposedly portraying Muslims committing acts of violence on Twitter early Wednesday morning, images that are likely to fuel anti-Islam sentiments popular among the president’s political base in the United States and prompted the office of Britain’s prime minister to issue a statement condemning the tweets."

Also see Talal Ansari, Buzzfeed, Here's Where That False Anti-Muslim Video Trump Retweeted Came From " The video, which depicts an attack by a Dutch teen on another Dutch teen, was first picked up by anti-Muslim activists in May. It has circulated through pro-Trump Twitter accounts, Reddit, Alex Jones' website Prison Planet, and the website of an anti-Muslim crusader — before being retweeted by the president of the United States."

Sky News, Sadiq Khan blasts back at Donald Trump after anti-Muslim video tweets  

Martijn, Lies, reductions and authority – Some background on the hate tweets of @JaydaBF and @realDonaldTrump

BBC News, Trump hits out at UK PM Theresa May after far-right video tweets

Elizabeth Poole, Eva Giraud, Ed de Quincey, Anti-Muslim propaganda on Twitter and the role of the far right

The Taliban's massive social media presence that's being ignored

Austin Bodetti, alaraby, The Taliban's massive social media presence that's being ignored, 22 Nov 2017 "The insurgents have employed social media for more creative purposes, creating Facebook profiles of attractive women to trick Western soldiers into disclosing intelligence. Their affiliates in Pakistan even tried to recruit propagandists for an online magazine through a Facebook page." I have written about this phenomenon in the past, and have something in my next book relating to the Taliban.

Outrage against Saudi Arabia as Israeli blogger posts selfies from Prophet's Mosque in Medina

alaraby, Outrage against Saudi Arabia as Israeli blogger posts selfies from Prophet's Mosque in Medina, 21 Nov 2017 "Images posted by an Israeli blogger inside the Mosque of the Prophet Muhammad in the Muslim holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia sparked outrage across the region this week over what many said was the religious insensitivity and double standards of Saudi authorities."

Hackers Fought ISIS With Porn

Gareth Browne, The Daily Beast, Hackers Fought ISIS With Porn, 21 Nov 2017 "Given the dangers they face, the six people who make up the little group calling itself, with conscious irony, “Daeshgram”—its name melding the Arabic acronym for ISIS and Instagram—are forced to live something resembling double lives." Recommended

New York terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov defended by mother

BBC News, New York terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov defended by mother "The BBC's Will Vernon tracked her down in Uzbekistan, the country that was home to terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov until 2010 when he moved to the US." Excellent report.

Cardiff terror accused's IS search 'was out of curiosity'

BBC News, Cardiff terror accused's IS search 'was out of curiosity', 20 Nov 2017 "A teenager accused of planning a terror attack in Cardiff has claimed he searched online for so-called Islamic State material out of curiosity."

Understanding Islam...With Books

Publishers Weekly, Understanding Islam...With Books includes reference to my next book (out 2018)

IS-related investigation in Minnesota

Star Tribune, Father, hacker and jujitsu instructor among Minnesotans under investigation for ISIS ties Interesting in its discussion on ongoing investigations, which have an online element.

Terrorism, radicalisation and Islam: Michel Wieviorka in conversation with Marc Sageman

The Conversation, Terrorism, radicalisation and Islam: Michel Wieviorka in conversation with Marc Sageman one for the reading list

New report on Russian-speaking Foreign Fighters

Crest Research, New report on Russian-speaking Foreign Fighters "Existing data on Russian-speaking groups and individuals linked to the Islamic State is often inaccurate, according to CREST Researcher Cerwyn Moore and ESRC-funded PhD Student Mark Youngman. They have released a substantive report on Russian-speaking foreign fighters and Islamic State’s influence in the North Caucasus."

Al-Qaeda's revised recruitment strategy for India: Go vernacular, reach larger audience

"Times Now, Al-Qaeda's revised recruitment strategy for India: Go vernacular, reach larger audience, 17 Nov 2017 "In a bid to expand its reach in India and to recruit more followers in the country, the Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent has begun to publish online material in three vernacular languages, namely Tamil, Bengali and Hindi, with speeches and articles by jihadists being translated in these three languages, the Indian Express reported."

"That’s not a Hadith. That’s Tupac."

Rayana Khalaf, Stepfeed, This Muslim sheikh's tweets about frequent questions will crack you up - "That’s not a Hadith. That’s Tupac." "While Muslim clerics and preachers are often thought of as characteristically serious and stern, this Florida-based lecturer is all about humor, especially on social media."

Tweeting the Qur'an

While you might want to ignore some of the inevitable discussion associated with this Reddit post, the graphic is interesting for those of us studying digital Islamic issues. I haven't explored the maths on this. I discuss Twitter and the Qur'an in my next book:

idarwishman, Reddit, 96% of the Quran is now tweetable with the new 280 character limit (inspired by the tweetable Bible graph) [OC], 15 Nov 2017

In ‘Watershed Moment,’ YouTube Blocks Extremist Cleric’s Message

New York Times, In ‘Watershed Moment,’ YouTube Blocks Extremist Cleric’s Message "Now, under growing pressure from governments and counterterrorism advocates, YouTube has drastically reduced its video archive of Mr. Awlaki, an American cleric who remains the leading English-language jihadist recruiter on the internet six years after he was killed by a United States drone strike. Using video fingerprinting technology, YouTube now flags his videos automatically and human reviewers block most of them before anyone sees them, company officials say." Widely available elsewhere, however.

Russian Bot

Metro, Man who shared image of Muslim ‘ignoring Westminster victims’ was a Russian bot

A Muslim YouTuber on the biggest misconception about her sex life

Independent, A Muslim YouTuber on the biggest misconception about her sex life "A London-based vlogger is debunking the myths surrounding Muslim women and dating."

Viral from Java

Afghanistan will not block WhatsApp, Telegram: spokesman

Reuters, Afghanistan will not block WhatsApp, Telegram: spokesman, 6 Nov 2017

SingleMuslim.com: how the Yorkshire dating site transformed Muslim romance

Guardian, SingleMuslim.com: how the Yorkshire dating site transformed Muslim romance "It is one of the biggest dating sites in the world and after 17 years, it has has led to over 50,000 marriages. Last week, it hit the headlines as matchmaker to two terror suspects. Tim Adams meets its founders in Wakefield."

This Is What You Need To Know About The Huge Shake-Up In Saudi Arabia

buzzfeed.com, This Is What You Need To Know About The Huge Shake-Up In Saudi Arabia Authoritative summary of a complex situation.

Opinion and Analysis: Saudi’s ‘Reforms’

Atlantic Council, Saudi’s ‘Reforms’: Interview with Dr. H.A. Hellyer "The Saudi Arabian Crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, recently declared that the kingdom sought a ‘return’ to the ‘moderate Islam’ of pre-1979. The international media understandably paid a great deal of attention—but how significant is this? Martin Chulov, the Guardian’s Middle East Correspondent, asked our non-resident senior fellow, Dr HA Hellyer, some questions about it ..." 

Allegations: 'Facebook Silences Rohingya Reports of Ethnic Cleansing'

Betsy Woodruff, Daily Beast, Exclusive: Facebook Silences Rohingya Reports of Ethnic Cleansing "The social network says it’s committed to helping the world ‘share their stories.’ But when people from Burma’s oppressed minority post, their stories have a habit of disappearing."

#WeNeedToTalk campaign

alaraby, Egypt's #WeNeedToTalk campaign backfires as thousands condemn Sisi's countless human rights violations "Some used the hashtag to highlight the plight of thousands of young leaders detained for mere social and political activism, while others focused on the names of those killed by security forces for no apparent reason." The hashtag #WeNeedToTalk is here

Footage shows New York attack suspect

BBC News, Footage shows New York attack suspect, 31 Oct 2017

Online dating couple 'plotted bombing'

BBC News, Online dating couple 'plotted bombing', 30 Oct 2017 "After meeting on dating site singlemuslim.com, the pair "rapidly formed emotional attachment and a shared ideology", the prosecution said."

ISIL’s Execution Videos

ISIL’s Execution Videos: Audience Segmentation and Terrorist Communication in the Digital Age | Radicalisation Research "This article offers a bottom-up understanding of the media strategy employed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as it relates to the production and dissemination of its hostage execution videos." Journal link here

The couple who put IS at heart of marriage

Dominic Casciani, BBC News, The couple who put IS at heart of marriage, 26 Oct 2017 "Three members of the same family have been convicted for being part of what could have been a major terror attack on the streets of Birmingham. Prosecutors say that at the centre of the plot foiled earlier this year were a husband-and-wife team who put the self-styled Islamic State's cause at the centre of their marriage." Online elements in this case.

Social media brings Pakistan's persecuted women rare justice after the violence

Guardian, Social media brings Pakistan's persecuted women rare justice after the violence "Together, Gill, Ali and Siddiqi represent a growing movement of Pakistani women using the internet to demand justice for the crimes they have suffered. This month, the #MeToo campaign – in which women globally have used social media to condemn sexual harassment and assault – has also trended in Pakistan, with one media commentator noting that, unlike previous popular campaigns against patriarchal violence, the #MeToo movement has gained “alarmingly high traction” in the country." Must-read.

Israel's 'predictive policing' sees online crackdown on Palestinians

alaraby, Israel's 'predictive policing' sees online crackdown on Palestinians "Israeli security agencies are using advanced technology to trawl through Palestinian social media posts to identify and detain users who have not yet committed a crime."

Sawab Center

Washington Times, Muslim-run messaging center wages cyberwar on Islamic State, 19 Oct 2017 "The little-known Sawab Center, which had its origins in Washington but has been run by the UAE government since 2015, also circulates its own intense — and, at times, violent — videos, made by Muslims to scare Muslims away from extremist content and to promote anti-terrorist sentiment online."

‘Halal whiskey’ hoax

Coconuts Jakarta, ‘Halal whiskey’ hoax goes viral after gov’t ends Indonesian Ulema Council’s power to issue halal certifications

This Online Group of Former Islamic Extremists Deradicalizes Jihadists

bloomberg.com, This Online Group of Former Islamic Extremists Deradicalizes Jihadists

IS map

NYT, The Islamic State: From Insurgency to Rogue State and Back interactive map

Libyan activists team up with Al-Azhar to tackle extremism

al-monitor, Libyan activists team up with Al-Azhar to tackle extremism "Not everybody is convinced that Al-Azhar can have a significant influence in Libya. Blogger Mohammad Khalil, 37, noted that Wahhabism, a fanatic and relatively modern interpretation of Islam originating from Saudi Arabia, is propagated far more than the views of Al-Azhar sheikhs. In the last 50 years, Riyadh has invested at least $86 billion in spreading Wahhabism worldwide, according to a study released in July by the Henry Jackson Society, a British think tank."

All eyes on delayed ISIS magazine and how militants will pitch Raqqa defeat

9news, All eyes on delayed ISIS magazine and how militants will pitch Raqqa defeat, 24 Oct 2017

Terror in France: The Rise of Jihad in the West

Terror in France: The Rise of Jihad in the West | Radicalisation Researcc



Book information

Disarray in the Syrian Jihad is Making Perfect Conditions for an AQ Revival

SITE, Disarray in the Syrian Jihad is Making Perfect Conditions for an AQ Revival, 16 Oct 2017

Online Jihadism workshop

ICSR, ICSR Workshop – Online Jihadism: Beyond The English-Language Literature This ongoing event (concluding today) is being live-tweeted #beyondeng

New and Noted: 'Islam on YouTube'

Al-Rawi, Ahmed, 'Theoretical Framework and Methodology', in Islam on YouTube: Online Debates, Protests, and Extremism, ed. by Ahmed Al-Rawi(London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2017), pp. 7-42. I have yet to view this. Book information is here.

Somalia attack

Chicago Tribune, 'It's a dark day for us': 276 killed in deadliest single attack in Somalia's history

Graphic: @MuslimGirl

Raif Badawi : Dreaming of freedom. A documentary graphic novel.

Radio Canada, Raif Badawi : Dreaming of freedom. A documentary graphic novel.

Sudan's e-Rebels

The New Arab, Austin Bodetti, On the front lines with Sudan's e-Rebels, and the state hackers targeting them, 16 Oct 2017 "A little-known hacker group operating under the name "Electronic Jihad" (sometimes translated from Arabic as "Cyber Jihad") spearheads the Sudanese government's efforts at cyber-warfare in Darfur, the Blue Nile, and the Nuba Mountains, where rebels representing ethnic minorities have been resisting its authority for decades."

Piety and Porn: In Raqqa, the Laptop Secrets of an ISIS Wife

Daily Beast, Piety and Porn: In Raqqa, the Laptop Secrets of an ISIS Wife

French intelligence texts jihadist by mistake, inadvertently warning of surveillance operation

Telegraph, French intelligence texts jihadist by mistake, inadvertently warning of surveillance operation

Networking

MIT Technology Review, How Close Are You Really?, 16 Oct 2017 "A diagram of your social network reveals the strength of your individual relationships, network scientists say."

Family released from Taliban captivity

AP, Joshua Boyle, family leave Pakistan after rescued from Taliban-linked group

How paralysed London cleric uses social media to help families flee Islamic State

Middle East Eye, How paralysed London cleric uses social media to help families flee Islamic State "Once, Hasan Anyabwile was a coup leader in Trinidad and Tobago. Now, based in London, he fights IS using a battered iPad."

Sally Jones was fleeing Raqqa as Isis's capital fell

Guardian, Sally Jones was fleeing Raqqa as Isis's capital fell "During her years with Isis, Jones, dubbed “the white widow”, had become one of the group’s most senior females, given the job of indoctrinating other women, as part of the Anwar al-Awlaki brigades, and sending some on suicide missions. Killing her had been a priority of both US and UK intelligence, which had painstakingly tried to dismantle the group’s external operations capacity which was tasked with carrying out attacks abroad."

Muzbnb

News.com.au, Many Muslims have been rejected from airbnb by potential hosts "Founded by a group of US entrepreneurs based in Washington DC, Muzbnb’s goal is to give Muslim travellers an alternative to Airbnb, where they often face discrimination."

Pakistani Media in the UK, Assignment

Pakistani Media in the UK, Assignment - BBC World Service

Isis supporter jailed for planning to bomb Birmingham train lines

Guardian, Isis supporter jailed for planning to bomb Birmingham train lines, 9 Oct 2017 "Jurors at Birmingham crown court heard that Hussain became radicalised while viewing hundreds of Isis images and videos of the war in Syria."

The driving lesson selfie that enraged some Saudis

BBC News, The driving lesson selfie that enraged some Saudis "Faisal BaDughaish, an analyst in a gas and oil company from Dhahran in the east of Saudi Arabia, tweeted a photo of him with his wife in an empty car park. The tweet read: "I started teaching my wife how to drive in one of the private parking spaces in a safe and legal way, preparing for the law to take effect.""

These Young Black British Muslims Were So Tired Of Being Erased They Made Their Own Web Series

Aisha Gani, buzzfeed, These Young Black British Muslims Were So Tired Of Being Erased They Made Their Own Web Series "In a six-minute preview featuring historian Habeeb Akande and rapper Muneera Williams, black British Muslims discuss their identity. In one candid moment, educator Amira Marius says: “People don’t recognise Islam as a 'black' religion a lot of the times because they don’t have that knowledge and understanding ... so they see it as an adopted religion.""