Virtually Islamic Blog

Gary R. Bunt

Saudi Arabia

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…

MBS KSA

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

KSA LGBTQIA Issues

Social media responses to this case (broadcast on TV) Discover More…

Yemen Medical Crisis

Yemen medical airlift finally takes off 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…

al-Eissa visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau

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

Nikkietutorials

KSA and Kuwait social media on trans-issues. 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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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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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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KSA al-Awda Case

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

KSA Influencers

Eden Gillespie, Guardian, The Instagram influencers hired to rehabilitate Saudi Arabia's image
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KSA censors university books

The New Arab, Saudi Arabia purges university books containing 'Muslim Brotherhood ideologies'
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Hajj 2019/1440

A collection of links and resources associated with Hajj 2019/1440 Discover More…

New book: 'Tweeted Heresies'

New and noted: Abdullah Hamidaddin, Tweeted Heresies Discover More…

KSA Gender Agenda

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

Sudan: Special Report

Khalid Abdelaziz, Michael Georgy and Maha El Dahan, Reuters, Special Report, Abandoned by the UAE, Sudan’s Bashir was destined to fall Discover More…

UN Investigator on Khashoggi

Reuters, Saudi probe dodges who ordered Khashoggi murder: U.N. expert
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KSA Hacking allegations +

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

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Israeli Tech Allegations

The Wire, Israeli Tech Companies Target Rights Activists With Tailor-Made Cyber Threats
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Fashion Influencers

Rayana Khalaf, Stepfeed, 7 female Arab bloggers redefining beauty standards one post at a time
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Disco in Jeddah

Leyal Khalife, Stepfeed, Halal Bar: Arabic hashtag 'Disco in Jeddah' wins the internet with jokes
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El Fadl on KSA Scholars

Usuli Institute, Khaled Abou El Fadl Speaks at Protest for Saudi Scholars, 2 June 2019 [published 7 June 2019 on YouTube]
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CIA Warn Khashoggi Associates

Time, The CIA Sent Warnings to at Least 3 Khashoggi Associates About New Threats From Saudi Arabia
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Masjid al Nabawi

YouTube, Humanity, Muazzin of Masjid al Nabawi Mohammed Marwan cries on his first Azaan Discover More…

Aid al-Qarni

The New Arab, Famed Saudi cleric says he will 'sever' links with Qatar
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Selfie Danger

Stepfeed, Saudi man found dead in Uganda river after he slipped while taking selfie
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Documentary on Saudi Women

ABC News (Australia), Four Corners, Women are trying to escape Saudi Arabia, but not all of them make it

There's a significant online element to this programme, which also features prominent blogger and writer Mona Eltahawy.


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Saudi Trial

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

Snapchat filters interpreted

stepfeed, Snapchat filters are apparently 'haram in Islam' according to this Saudi cleric
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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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Absher

The New Arab, 'Want to track and detain your wife or sister? There's a Saudi app for that' Discover More…

KSA Documentary

BBC iPlayer, The Real Saudi Arabia: Why I Had to Leave Discover More…

Prominent Saudi scholar Ahmed al-Amari dies in prison: Activists

Al Jazeera, Prominent Saudi scholar Ahmed al-Amari dies in prison: Activists

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Nojoud al-Mandeel

Al Jazeera, Another Saudi woman takes to Twitter to 'escape abusive family'
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Rahaf al-Qunun: updated

Rahaf al-Qunun situation updated: Discover More…

SMS Divorce Notification

CNN, Saudi women to be notified of divorce by text message Discover More…

KSA Italian football

CNN, Italian Super Cup: Holding match in Saudi Arabia 'disgusting', 3 Jan 2019
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KSA Viral Twitter Thread

Rose Troup Buchanan, Buzzfeed, This Viral Twitter Thread About The Fate Of A Young Saudi Arabian Couple Is Devastating
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British MPs seek access to detained Saudi activists amid torture claims

Guardian, British MPs seek access to detained Saudi activists amid torture claims, 2 Jan 2019
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'Patriot Act' banned

New York Times, Netflix Blocks Show in Saudi Arabia Critical of Saudi Prince (click through here to view the episode)
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KSA Iran Hajj Deal

Reuters/IFP, Iran, Saudi Arabia 'sign deal' for 2019 Hajj season
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Allegations: Jamal Khashoggi's private WhatsApp messages may offer new clues to killing

CNN, Jamal Khashoggi's private WhatsApp messages may offer new clues to killing, 4 Dec 2018 Discover More…

Israel's software helps KSA - allegation

NYT, Israeli Software Helped Saudis Spy on Khashoggi, Lawsuit Says
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Turkey to use intercepted Saudi comms to demolish Khashoggi cover-up

Middle East Eye, Turkey to use intercepted Saudi comms to demolish Khashoggi cover-up


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KSA 'inside-out abaya'

A prominent campaign has appeared on social media from SaudiArabia relating to dress codes over the past week.

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Islam as statecraft: How governments use religion in foreign policy

Peter Mandaville and Shadi Hamid, Islam as statecraft: How governments use religion in foreign policy, Brookings
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KSA 'Misusing Mecca'

Opinion piece from Khaled M. Abou El Fadl: NYT, Saudi Arabia Is Misusing Mecca Discover More…

'Smart Mosques'

Saudi Gazette, ‘Smart Mosques’ to monitor mosques all over Kingdom


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MBS 'WIngs clipped'

"Six weeks after Jamal Khashoggi was murdered by Saudi agents, the decision-making process in Riyadh is slowly starting to change. Fallout from the assassination in Istanbul has wounded Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the throne, and given a second wind to an old guard of elders, whose views are once more being heard." Discover More…

KSA Twitter

KSA twitter rumours on ruling family. Discover More…

Jamal Khashoggi - updated

Updated collection of articles relating to the Jamal Khashoggi case. Read more too @garybunt Discover More…

Twitter pulls down Saudi bots

Twitter pulls down Saudi bot network Discover More…

KSA tech investments under scrutiny

Opinion piece: Anand Giridharadas, NYT, Silicon Valley’s Saudi Arabia Problem, 12 Oct 2018 "As Saudi Arabia establishes its new role as one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent investors, the risk grows that its investments will purchase silence. Companies that pride themselves on openness and freedom may find themselves unable to speak ill of one of their largest investors." Discover More…

Saudi Tech

ArabNews.com, Saudi woman honored at technology conference "Sadeem Rashed Al-Marri was a winner in the Innovators Under 35 competition at the EmTech MENA emerging technology conference." Translates Arabic text into sign language.
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