These and further stories on the new Virtually Islamic blog:
Sufism in Uzbekistan
Sufism in Uzbekistan discussed in great BBC programme:
Trump and Far-Right
Trump and the far-right article by JM Berger
Mona Haydar profile
Mona Haydar profiled
Monday, October 29, 2018
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Virtually Islamic Blog
Please note that I'm primarily now posting on virtuallyislamic.com but will be maintaining this blog/archive too.
Friday, September 28, 2018
Malaysia Syariah-compliant browser
I discuss Islam-friendly apps and browsers in 'Hashtag Islam', and here's a new option: The Star Online, Syariah compliant web browser aims to make the Internet a better place, Sep 28 2018 "… SalamBrowser, touted as the world’s first syariah-compliant web browser, which Salam Web claims will eliminate inappropriate content from the search results." There have been several attempts at this kind of browser product before, so it will be interesting to see how effective it is compared with mainstream products.
Afaq
9News, The secretive IT unit helping Islamic State supporters hide in dark corners of Internet, 24 Sep 2018 "Afaq's purpose is to help Islamic State jihadists and supporters to remain safe and secure online, while they actively recruit would-be fighters and spread violent propaganda across the Internet."
Gender and jihad
Nikita Malik, Forbes.com, Why Do We Underestimate The Role Of Women In Terrorist Organizations?, 26 Sep 2018 "It is important to remember, moreover, that Islamic State was the first terrorist organization to spearhead a systematic campaign to reach out to women – using gender specific propaganda to do so. The group later inspired others, including the Pakistani Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban, or TTP) to follow suit and produce content tailored specifically for its ‘jihadi sisters’, and elaborate on their role in promoting the mujahideen (fighters)."
Thursday, September 27, 2018
'One Day in the Haram'
Review of 'One Day in the Haram':
Leslie Felperin, Guardian, One Day in the Haram review – a fascinating glimpse inside Islam's holiest site, 6 Sep 2018
"A trip to the mosque’s social media office offers an insight into how modern technology is used to service ancient traditions, and that tension between old and new is woven throughout the movie, which is in itself an artefact representative of that duality."
I discuss the issue of social media and pilgrimage in 'Hashtag Islam'.
I'm looking forward to seeing this. As it stands in the UK, it is only available on Amazon Prime at present. I'm hoping that a DVD release is imminent.
Leslie Felperin, Guardian, One Day in the Haram review – a fascinating glimpse inside Islam's holiest site, 6 Sep 2018
"A trip to the mosque’s social media office offers an insight into how modern technology is used to service ancient traditions, and that tension between old and new is woven throughout the movie, which is in itself an artefact representative of that duality."
I discuss the issue of social media and pilgrimage in 'Hashtag Islam'.
I'm looking forward to seeing this. As it stands in the UK, it is only available on Amazon Prime at present. I'm hoping that a DVD release is imminent.
Mosul Eye
Guardian, Lucy Lamble, Small Changes, The Mosul historian who risked his life to blog about life under Isis – podcast, 26 Sep 2018 "When his beloved city was occupied by Islamic State, Iraqi Omar Mohammed was determined to document every atrocity – as anonymous blogger Mosul Eye" Essential listening!
Friday, September 14, 2018
New home for blog
I'm now blogging on the virtuallyislamic.com website, but will continue to place summarised posts here too.
Recent posts
Contesting identities within cultural insecurity
Currently taking a look at this interesting thesis, which draws on a number of elements associated with the study of cyber Islamic Environments. Kathleen Woodhouse-Ledermann, Contesting identities within cultural insecurity: The case of Muslim women in contemporary France (Rutgers, 2018) [PDF download]
Twitter reacts to Begum Kulsoom Nawaz’s demise
12/09/18 20:23 Filed in: Pakistan | Social Media
'The next billion users': Google targets India's lucrative mobile market
12/09/18 20:19 Filed in: Social Media | India Internet
Guardian, 'The next billion users': Google targets India's lucrative mobile market, 11 Sep 2018
"As mobile markets in developed world near saturation, Google rolls out Neighbourly, its first Indian-inspired social network"
"As mobile markets in developed world near saturation, Google rolls out Neighbourly, its first Indian-inspired social network"
Women Warriors
11/09/18 10:56 Filed in: Islam and Gender
This looks like an interesting read:
Nickolay Nickolov, Mashable, Women Warriors
"“The situation doesn’t favour women,” says Maryam Ado Haruna who works with the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), a Nigerian organisation using tech to develop good governance. Religious beliefs and cultural trends can contribute to attitudes about who can and should access the internet. “The way parents deny access deliberately and husbands deny wives a— they think our religion, Islam, means that internet is not for Nigerian women,” Ado Haruna says."
Nickolay Nickolov, Mashable, Women Warriors
"“The situation doesn’t favour women,” says Maryam Ado Haruna who works with the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), a Nigerian organisation using tech to develop good governance. Religious beliefs and cultural trends can contribute to attitudes about who can and should access the internet. “The way parents deny access deliberately and husbands deny wives a— they think our religion, Islam, means that internet is not for Nigerian women,” Ado Haruna says."
Man arrested after breakfast with woman in Saudi Arabia
11/09/18 10:28 Filed in: Social Media
BBC News, Man arrested after breakfast with woman in Saudi Arabia, 10 Sep 2018 "In the 30-second video, the man and woman briefly joke about eating their breakfast together, with nobody else invited."
Contrasting views were expressed on social media from Egypt and Saudi Arabia in relation to this incident.
Contrasting views were expressed on social media from Egypt and Saudi Arabia in relation to this incident.
Monday, September 03, 2018
Hashtag Islam
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| Hashtag Islam - print version |
Sunday, September 02, 2018
New and Noted: Contesting Religion: The Media Dynamics of Cultural Conflicts in Scandinavia
Knut Lundby (editor), Contesting Religion: The Media Dynamics of Cultural Conflicts in Scandinavia, De GruyterAnother one for the Reading List. The good news is that it is Open Access! The book includes contributions from Knut Lundby, Mia Lövheim, Lynn Schofield Clark and Mona Abdel-Fadil
Shahira Yusuf
Observer, Shahira Yusuf: 'I have always felt beautiful', 2 Sep 2018 "It was just before the 2016 referendum, as she became aware of the lack of NHS funding, that Yusuf decided to study politics – the Grenfell Tower fire cemented her decision. She plans to start a politics degree this year, balancing (she offers a nervous smile) modelling and studying. But often the two will leak into each other, as, with her newly elevated platform, she uses Twitter for activism, and finds herself discussing Brexit and immigration in the make-up chair."
Extremists exploiting small social media websites, experts warn
BBC News, Extremists exploiting small social media websites, experts warn, 1 Sep 2018 "The likes of Facebook and Twitter have responded to calls to remove extremist content over the last 18 months."
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Commercial Break: Hashtag Islam - Australia and New Zealand
Hashtag Islam can be obtained through all the usual channels in Australia and New Zealand, including through Footprint Books. Their October catalogue has details and prices.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Publishers Weekly Review: Hashtag Islam
Publishers Weekly, Nonfiction Review, Hashtag Islam: How Cyber- Islamic Environments Are Transforming Religious Authority
" ... by investigating how Muslim communities are utilizing (and being transformed by) the ongoing worldwide digital revolution, this work proves to be an important addition to literature on contemporary Islam."
" ... by investigating how Muslim communities are utilizing (and being transformed by) the ongoing worldwide digital revolution, this work proves to be an important addition to literature on contemporary Islam."
New and noted: Hello World: How to be Human in the Age of the Machine,
Hannah Fry, Hello World: How to be Human in the Age of the Machine, Penguin BooksAnother one for the Reading list (helped by her TV documentary 'The Joy of Winning').
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
CIC Saudi Arabia
It's been interesting to review the output of CIC Saudi Arabia on Twitter during Hajj 2018, presenting human stories within the hajj. Some examples are below (check my @garybunt Twitter feed for more):
The following video isn't on theYouTube channel yet, but here's a Twitter link: in contemporary times, the long distance journey to hajj on foot becomes all the more remarkable #hajj CIC Saudi Arabia, [@CICSaudi], "Hajj is over but for Othman AlShahin the journey is not over yet. The man who walked 450km to Hajj (the equivalent distance of #Paris to #Geneva) is now on his way home by foot. "
The following video isn't on theYouTube channel yet, but here's a Twitter link: in contemporary times, the long distance journey to hajj on foot becomes all the more remarkable #hajj CIC Saudi Arabia, [@CICSaudi], "Hajj is over but for Othman AlShahin the journey is not over yet. The man who walked 450km to Hajj (the equivalent distance of #Paris to #Geneva) is now on his way home by foot. "
New and noted: LikeWar: How Social Media Became The Locus Of 21st Century War
Interesting review of Peter W. Singer and Emerson T. Brooking's book
'LikeWar: How Social Media Became The Locus Of 21st Century War' via
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Dina Torkia interview: the Muslim fashion blogger talks Boris Johnson and burkas
The Times, Dina Torkia interview: the Muslim fashion blogger talks Boris Johnson and burkasProfile of Dina Torkia, high profile fashionista based in Wales. Interesting in terms of her social media use in particular. (Pay walled article).
"Dina Torkia is a social media sensation, a Muslim fashionista with more than two million followers. But her fans get a lot more from her controversial posts than how to look fab in a hijab. Julia Llewellyn Smith meets her at home in Wales."
This is an excellent article.
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