Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Online 'plotting'(?)
Thomas Hegghammer, Jihadica, Prêt à porter terrorism, 2 Mar 09, "As most Jihadica readers probably know, the jihadi internet is used for many things, but not for operational planning. I have yet to come across online discussions or instructions for concrete operations by professional militants. However, once in a while you see amateurs proposing specific operations – “prêt a porter plots” – for others to carry out."
Jihadis and Jalalabad (Waq al-Waq)
Waq al-Waq, Jihadis and Jalalabad, 1 Mar 09 "On February 19 we posted on Nasir al-Wahayshi's speech here. At the time one of the things that most intrigued me - besides a specific term, I have already blogged about - was the individuals that he mentioned by name, asking "where are the descendants of Abu Tariq al-'Irada, Abu 'Ali al-Harithi, Abu Hasan al-Midhar, Salim al-Hadad and Abu Muslim al-Nihmi?""
ITU: mobile phones and digital divide
Guardian, Nice talking to you ... mobile phone use passes milestone, 3 Mar 09
"A UN report reveals that half the globe now pays to use one, with the fastest growth taking place in Africa."
See ITU, New ITU ICT Development Index compares 154 countries, 2 Mar 09
Also see ITU, Measuring the Information Society - The ICT Development Index [direct link to PDF
"A UN report reveals that half the globe now pays to use one, with the fastest growth taking place in Africa."
See ITU, New ITU ICT Development Index compares 154 countries, 2 Mar 09
Also see ITU, Measuring the Information Society - The ICT Development Index [direct link to PDF
Sheikh Adel ben Salem Al-Kalbani
Middle East Online, Saudi ‘Obama’: First Black Imam of Mecca: Imam of Grand Mosque does not mind being compared to US President, praises King Abdullah for appointing him.
"Sheikh Adel ben Salem Al-Kalbani, 52, is the first black Imam of «Al-Masjid Al-Haram», Mecca’s Grand Mosque where 2 million Muslims go for pilgrimage every year. He does not mind being compared to Barack Obama""
Several web comments on this appointment (referred to in article)
"Sheikh Adel ben Salem Al-Kalbani, 52, is the first black Imam of «Al-Masjid Al-Haram», Mecca’s Grand Mosque where 2 million Muslims go for pilgrimage every year. He does not mind being compared to Barack Obama""
Several web comments on this appointment (referred to in article)
The internet in the Middle East
Tal Pavel, Daily Star (Lebanon), For many Arab states, internet suffocation is the norm "As a tool for direct and unfettered access to information and its transmission, the internet constitutes a cultural and political challenge to certain regimes. Accordingly, some states in the Middle East and elsewhere seek to restrict their citizens from using the internet in a free and comprehensive manner. According to Journalists Without Borders, five of the 15 countries defined as "internet enemies" are in the Middle East: Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Tunisia. And five of the 11 countries defined as "under surveillance" are also from the Middle East: Bahrain, Jordan, Libya, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen."
Taken from this useful new publication:
Bitter Lemons International, The internet in the Middle East, Edition 8, Vol. 7 where you'll also find:
Esra'a Al Shafei, Social media for social change
Mona Eltahawy, I blog, therefore I am
Ali Abunimah, An ideal medium for a stateless people
Taken from this useful new publication:
Bitter Lemons International, The internet in the Middle East, Edition 8, Vol. 7 where you'll also find:
Esra'a Al Shafei, Social media for social change
Mona Eltahawy, I blog, therefore I am
Ali Abunimah, An ideal medium for a stateless people
Monday, March 02, 2009
Cartoons: Jihad Awartany
This cartoon first surfaced last summer, but has reappeared on al-Arabiyya's front page. According to a survey in MEMRI, it first appeared in Al-Watan on July 1, 2008. It's by Jihad Awartany, whose cartoons are a distinctive feature of Al-Watan
The MEMRI survey (previously blogged) also had several other internet related cartoons.
Research: 'Amrikan Shari'a'
This looks like a useful article, with its integration of online concepts and issues into a discussion on family law in the USA:
Saminaz Zaman, Amrikan Shari'a: The Reconstruction of Islamic Family Law in the United States, South Asia Research, Vol. 28, No. 2, 185-202 (2008)
"This article examines the growth and development of the hybridized practice of Muslim laws in the shadow of the American legal system, a form of unofficial law that may be called amrikan shari'a. Following the immigration trajectory of many American Muslims, transnational information links forged by wide-scale immigration are explored, particularly the innovative use of new online resources available to Muslim immigrants in America and the proliferation of online fiqh discussion groups, which has fostered the very American character of the do-it-yourself mufti. A further section considers several mahr cases that have reached American courtrooms and compares one such case with a similar English case, which was decided rather differently. The article concludes with an assessment of how the Bush government's ‘War on Terror’ and domestic US developments, such as legalizing gay marriage in Massachusetts and the increasing presence of second-generation Muslim Americans, combine to affect the future of amrikan shari'a within a secular legal system."
Saminaz Zaman, Amrikan Shari'a: The Reconstruction of Islamic Family Law in the United States, South Asia Research, Vol. 28, No. 2, 185-202 (2008)
"This article examines the growth and development of the hybridized practice of Muslim laws in the shadow of the American legal system, a form of unofficial law that may be called amrikan shari'a. Following the immigration trajectory of many American Muslims, transnational information links forged by wide-scale immigration are explored, particularly the innovative use of new online resources available to Muslim immigrants in America and the proliferation of online fiqh discussion groups, which has fostered the very American character of the do-it-yourself mufti. A further section considers several mahr cases that have reached American courtrooms and compares one such case with a similar English case, which was decided rather differently. The article concludes with an assessment of how the Bush government's ‘War on Terror’ and domestic US developments, such as legalizing gay marriage in Massachusetts and the increasing presence of second-generation Muslim Americans, combine to affect the future of amrikan shari'a within a secular legal system."
Ka'aba Radio Programme
BBC Radio 3, The Black Cube, 1 Mar 09 available on iPlayer for 7 days from original broadcast (shame it wasn't an MP3)
"Broadcaster and film-maker Navid Akhtar talks about the Ka'aba - or the Black Cube - at the heart of the Masjid al Haram Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the holiest shrine of Islam, encircled by millions of pilgrims every year, and is traditionally said to have been built by Abraham on the foundations of the first house of Adam."
I haven't heard this one yet.
"Broadcaster and film-maker Navid Akhtar talks about the Ka'aba - or the Black Cube - at the heart of the Masjid al Haram Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the holiest shrine of Islam, encircled by millions of pilgrims every year, and is traditionally said to have been built by Abraham on the foundations of the first house of Adam."
I haven't heard this one yet.
Smartphones
Gulf News, Smartphones drive growth in Mideast handset market, 1 Mar 09 "Research firm Informa Telecoms & Media forecasts that the Middle East handset market will be worth $8.18 billion (Dh30.2 billion) this year, an increase of 7.92 per cent compared to $7.58 billion last year.
..."Vendors are increasing their involvement in open mobile terminal software, which is a core foundation in the development of smartphone devices. Open source will play a key role in bringing smartphones to the mass market.
"A number of mobile open source foundations have been created within the last two years; including the Symbian Foundation, the Open Handset Alliance, and the Linux in Mobile foundation."
..."Vendors are increasing their involvement in open mobile terminal software, which is a core foundation in the development of smartphone devices. Open source will play a key role in bringing smartphones to the mass market.
"A number of mobile open source foundations have been created within the last two years; including the Symbian Foundation, the Open Handset Alliance, and the Linux in Mobile foundation."
Terminology ++
GigaOm (Om Malik), Bruce Sterling On OLPC, Mobile Phones, 1 Mar 09 commentary. Also see Bruce Sterling, Wired, What Bruce Sterling Actually Said About Web 2.0 at Webstock 09 useful when we are writing about this subject area to consider the points made in these posts
Saudi Arabia: Education
al-Arabiyya, Saudi prisoners pursue post-grad studies behind bars, 1 Mar 09 "More than 500 prisoners in Saudi Arabia are pursuing their post-graduate studies in various fields via distance learning, local press reported Saturday.
"The prisoners expressed their desire to obtain their Masters and Ph.D. degrees through distance learning and have enrolled in Saudi universities, said Major General Dr. Ali Bin Hussein al-Harthi, Director of the General Authority of Prisons."
Not sure if any of this is online...
"The prisoners expressed their desire to obtain their Masters and Ph.D. degrees through distance learning and have enrolled in Saudi universities, said Major General Dr. Ali Bin Hussein al-Harthi, Director of the General Authority of Prisons."
Not sure if any of this is online...
Nik Aziz - Using the word 'Allah'
New Straits Times, Nik Aziz: 'Allah' is for all, 2 Mar 09 "Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat said non-Muslims are allowed to use the word "Allah" as there is a verse in the Quran which quotes the non-Muslims of Mecca calling their god "Allah"."
Islam's evolutionary legacy
Evolution
Guardian, Islam's evolutionary legacy, 1 Mar 09 "But as we celebrate the work of one of the most influential scientists ever, let's take a moment or two to remember others who contributed ideas in the history of evolutionary thought. Many came from Britain as well as other countries in Europe. Others came from further afield, and their writings are increasingly coming to light thanks to the painstaking work of historians of science, and historians of ideas."
Guardian, Islam's evolutionary legacy, 1 Mar 09 "But as we celebrate the work of one of the most influential scientists ever, let's take a moment or two to remember others who contributed ideas in the history of evolutionary thought. Many came from Britain as well as other countries in Europe. Others came from further afield, and their writings are increasingly coming to light thanks to the painstaking work of historians of science, and historians of ideas."
Friday, February 27, 2009
Kirkuk Phone Tones
Phone Tones
Samah Samad, IWPR/ISN, Kirkuk Ringtones Reflect Rivalries, 24 Feb 09 "In Iraq’s most diverse and disputed province, mobile phone ringtones play a big part in the politics of identity. Kirkuk contains most of Iraq’s many religious and ethnic groups, and has been described as everything from a colourful bouquet of flowers to a powderkeg."
China
China
CBS Internet Terror Monitor, China on the Radar of Al Qaeda, 26 Feb 09 "Several pro-al-Qaeda websites posted the Islamic Turkistan magazine in an attempt to raise the profile of the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, which has been struggling against the Chinese government to establish an independent Islamic State in the region of Xinjiang. The magazine carried articles entitled “the crimes of the Chinese communist regime” and “why we are fighting China.”"
CBS Internet Terror Monitor, China on the Radar of Al Qaeda, 26 Feb 09 "Several pro-al-Qaeda websites posted the Islamic Turkistan magazine in an attempt to raise the profile of the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, which has been struggling against the Chinese government to establish an independent Islamic State in the region of Xinjiang. The magazine carried articles entitled “the crimes of the Chinese communist regime” and “why we are fighting China.”"
"al-Ruaybdha" terminology
"al-Ruaybdha" terminology
Waq al-Waq, Jihadi Vocab, 26 Feb 09 "I have thought for some time now that a book that is really needed is some sort of jihadi dictionary, explaining common words phrases and allusions that often pepper jihadi magazines and videos. Not that the book would really sell beyond a few hundred copies, but still..."
Waq al-Waq, Jihadi Vocab, 26 Feb 09 "I have thought for some time now that a book that is really needed is some sort of jihadi dictionary, explaining common words phrases and allusions that often pepper jihadi magazines and videos. Not that the book would really sell beyond a few hundred copies, but still..."
'Anti-Filter' in Iran
Independent, Lipstick revolution: Iran's women are taking on the mullahs, 26 Feb 09 "f the feminists wanted to tap into a groundswell, the numbers are there: half of Iran's 34.6 million women are under 25. Many young people are more interested in flouting the strictures on dating by swapping mobile numbers with boys, or attending vodka-fuelled "gatherings" in private homes, than in fighting the women's corner. But others like Maryam and Tahminah, a devout-looking pair of students in chadors I bumped into at a museum, told me some of their friends didn't believe in God, want a lot more freedom and spend much of their time on Facebook. "Everyone has anti-filter," Tahminah laughed, when I asked about internet censorship."
Baghdad museum
AP, Italy plans virtual Baghdad museum, 27 Feb 09 "After helping to fund the reopening of Iraq's National Museum, Italy is planning a virtual exhibition of Mesopotamian and Islamic treasures, many of which are still missing from the looted Baghdad repository, officials said Wednesday.
"Starting late next month, Internet surfers will be able to roam eight virtual halls showcasing artifacts dating from the birth of civilization in ancient Iraq to the founding of Baghdad in A.D. 762."
"Starting late next month, Internet surfers will be able to roam eight virtual halls showcasing artifacts dating from the birth of civilization in ancient Iraq to the founding of Baghdad in A.D. 762."
United Arab Emirates: cartoons and YouTube
alarabiya.net, UAE bans anti-Islam Israeli cartoon on YouTube, 26 Feb 09 "The United Arab Emirates has blocked an Israeli cartoon on the video sharing website YouTube due to content that mocks Muslims and insults the UAE, the country's two internet service providers announced on Wednesday.
"The controversial cartoon, called Ahmed and Salim, is a set of satirical skits that center on the title characters who are more interested in Western pop culture than their father's aspirations of having them die as martyrs by carrying out terrorist attacks on "filthy Jews or Americans," which the boys continue to fail at."
"The controversial cartoon, called Ahmed and Salim, is a set of satirical skits that center on the title characters who are more interested in Western pop culture than their father's aspirations of having them die as martyrs by carrying out terrorist attacks on "filthy Jews or Americans," which the boys continue to fail at."
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