Virtually Islamic Blog

Gary R. Bunt

COVID-19: Updated

COVID-19 coverage/issues relating specifically to Muslims and the internet: this section of the blog is now effectively a timeline of key concerns associated with COVID-19. Expect some writing of this in due course, and also a webinar of work-in-progress (in September). Discover More…

Hajj 2020/1441

Coverage of Hajj 2020/1441 and Eid online (which crosses over into the Covid-19 section of this blog) … Discover More…

Khashoggi Case

Trial relating to Khashoggi murder - all the accused are absent, but it might reveal some important details nevertheless. Discover More…

MBS KSA

Al Bawaba, 'Mr. Bone Saw' Online Comment Lands Another Saudi Twitter Activist in Jail Discover More…

Indonesia Influenced by KSA

Guardian, How Saudi Arabia's religious project transformed Indonesia
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KSA issues

KSA allegations, with social media elements Discover More…

Mecca Girl

'Mecca Girl' rap causes a social media stir Discover More…

KSA Hacking Allegations

Guardian, Reporter who wrote book on Saudi crown prince was allegedly targeted by hackers Discover More…

KSA Tourism

Influencers in action Discover More…

KSA Amazon campaign

Middle East Eye, Boycott Amazon: Hashtag trends in Saudi Arabia after Bezos hacking allegations
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KSA dissident sues

Guardian, UK court allows Saudi dissident to sue kingdom over alleged hacking Discover More…

Bezos hack allegations

Claims and counter-claims … Discover More…

KSA Bot Army

Marc Owen Jones, Middle East Eye, Saudi Arabia's bot army flourishes as Twitter fails to tame the beast Discover More…

al-Eissa visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau

Sheikh Mohammed al-Eissa to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial site Discover More…

Uber murder in KSA? - allegations

Uber-related murder in KSA? - allegations Discover More…

KSA Media

Time.com, 'I Never Wanted to Be a Dissident.' A Gay Saudi Journalist Seeking Asylum in Australia Speaks Out After Being Detained
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KSA and Gender

albawaba, 'Working With Women Will Arouse You!' Saudi Social Media Star Criticizes Mixed Gender Workplaces
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Pensacola attack

Collected links on the Pensacola attack: Discover More…

KSA 'Reform'

Martin Chulov, Guardian, Young v old, urban v rural: cultural reforms expose Saudi fault lines Discover More…

KSA VPNs

Paul Bischoff, Comparitech, Are VPNs legal in Saudi Arabia? A common sense guide
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KSA Frees Suspects

Reuters/New Arab, Saudi Arabia says it released 11 people questioned over 'foreign ties'
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KSA Video of Domestic Abuse

Al Bawaba, Neighbors Capture Video of Painful Screams From Domestically Abused Woman in Saudi Begging for Help
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KSA Intellectuals Detained

Bloomberg, Saudi Crackdown Extended as Intellectuals Detained
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KSA Entertainment Drive

The New Arab, Saudi cleric claims music, singing allowed by Prophet Muhammad just as MbS presses 'entertainment' drive Discover More…

Twitter's Saudi spy network leaves activists living in fear

Middle East Eye, Twitter's Saudi spy network leaves activists living in fear Discover More…

KSA Domestic Workers Initiative

Mariam Nabbout, Stepfeed, Saudi Arabia to take action against people who 'sell' domestic workers [online dimension to this] Discover More…

'Immodest fashion'??

AlBawaba, Is a Saleswoman’s Outfit Enough to Enrage an Entire Country? In Saudi Arabia, It Is
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KSA Promo

Reuters/VOA, Saudi Promo Video Labels Feminism, Atheism, Homosexuality as Extremist Ideas
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RIyadh Niqab 'ban'

al-Bawaba, Saudi Woman Banned from Working at Riyadh Season for Wearing Niqab Discover More…

KSA al-Awda Case

Al Jazeera, Verdict delayed in trial of Saudi dissident: family Discover More…

KSA Influencers

Bloomberg Business, Can Influencers Improve Saudi Arabia’s Image? Discover More…

KSA Gender Agenda

Guardian, An 'oasis' for women? Inside Saudi Arabia’s vast new female-only workspaces useful read Discover More…

'Wahhabism Confronted'

Reuters, Wahhabism confronted: Sri Lanka curbs Saudi influence after bombings
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KSA: Nicki Minaj

BBC News, Nicki Minaj Saudi gig prompts confusion online
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KSA Driving Issues

BBC News, Saudi Arabia: My experience as a female driver, one year on

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The Gulf's digital addiction

Jennifer Bell, Arab News, Digital addiction’s early start stirs concern in Gulf countries
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KSA Hacking allegations +

Guardian, Guardian told it was target of Saudi hacking unit after Khashoggi killing

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KSA Green Social Media

albawaba, Social Media Turns Green for Saudi Arabia Discover More…

KSA IMEI Tracking

Business Insider, Saudi Arabia is hunting down women who flee the country by tracking the IMEI number on their cellphones Discover More…

KSA Human rights

Middle East Eye, Executed by Saudi Arabia: A student, an academic, a protester, an imam
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Uber KSA Gender Preferences

The National, Female Uber drivers in Saudi Arabia can now choose their passengers' gender
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Male Guardianship Tweets

Stepfeed, Saudi father criticizes the male guardianship system in viral tweet
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Megaphones in Mosques

Stepfeed, Saudi cleric says megaphones should only be used for 'adhan' in mosques
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Saudi Trial

Reuters, Saudi women activists back in court as West watches Discover More…

KSA Sunni-Shi'a Relations

The New Arab, Saudi ex-Imam of Mecca 'no longer considers Shia Muslims as heretics' Discover More…

'HajjB&B'

Mustafa El Bouabi, The New Arab, HajjBnB? Riyadh looks to profit from pilgrims with new Umrah hosting scheme Discover More…

KSA Prosecutions

Guardian, Saudi women's rights activists go on trial in Riyadh

G Discover More…

Religious Opinion

Stepfeed, Saudi cleric says bribery is OK sometimes, but Muslims don't agree
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KSA Viral Video

al-Bawaba, Saudi Woman Goes Shopping Without Her Abaya Challenging Mandatory Dress Code
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Saudi Show Stopped

al-Jazeera, Saudi Arabia suspends TV show that aired critical views, 5 Mar 2019 Discover More…

KSA Music Academy

StepFeed, Curtain Call: Is Saudi Arabia about to open its first music academy? Discover More…

KSA Lens Fatwa

StepFeed, Saudi cleric says 'colored lenses are haram' ... and what? Discover More…

KSA Polygamy

StepFeed, Saudi cleric says polygamous men can keep their second marriage a secret
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KSA Gender

Madawi al-Rasheed, Middle East Eye, Why women are fleeing Mohammed bin Salman's Saudi Arabia
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KSA Valentine's Day


Bloomberg, Saudi Arabia Is Quietly Letting Valentine’s Day Happen
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Khashoggi murder

Independent, Khashoggi murder: Saudi crown prince said he would 'use a bullet' on journalist a year before his killing Discover More…

KSA activism appeal

NBC, Sister of jailed female activist appeals to Pompeo on eve of Saudi trip
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KSA Women

NYT, Saudi Women, Tired of Restraints, Find Ways to Flee
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