Virtually Islamic Blog

Gary R. Bunt

Saudi Internet

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 issues

KSA allegations, with social media elements Discover More…

Mecca Girl

'Mecca Girl' rap causes a social media stir 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…

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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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 VPNs

Paul Bischoff, Comparitech, Are VPNs legal in Saudi Arabia? A common sense guide
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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…

'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 Social Media Storm

al Bawaba, French Kisses in Saudi? "Immodest" Behavior at Riyadh Color Run Shocks the Conservative Kingdom Discover More…

Child-friendly Mosques

Al Bawaba, This is Not a Theme Park! Critical Voices Reject Saudi Presenter's Play Area Idea in Mosques Discover More…

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 Abaya Online Debate

Mariam Nabbout, Stepfeed, Saudi scholar believes women 'shouldn't be forced to wear abayas'
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Crypto Saudi

CoinTelegraph, Saudi Arabia Warns of Crypto Scammers Posing as Gov’t Projects Discover More…

UAE-Saudi 'Twitter War'

The New Arab, 'Aden coup' sparks angry Twitter war between Saudi and UAE supporters Discover More…

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 Hacking allegations +

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

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Social Media Sensitivities

The New Arab, Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid apologises to UAE, Saudi fans over 'racist' Instagram post
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Israeli Tech Allegations

The Wire, Israeli Tech Companies Target Rights Activists With Tailor-Made Cyber Threats
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VPN Guidance

TechGenYZ, 10 Countries where a VPN is a must have
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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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KSA Guardianship

Mrriam Nabbout, Stepfeed, Saudi father criticizes the male guardianship system in viral tweet
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Selfie Danger

Stepfeed, Saudi man found dead in Uganda river after he slipped while taking selfie
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Saudi Trial

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

CyberOrient

CyberOrient Discover More…

Snapchat filters interpreted

stepfeed, Snapchat filters are apparently 'haram in Islam' according to this Saudi cleric
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KSA 'Ghost Accounts'

al Bawaba, The Strange Case of Twitter's Verified Saudi Arabian 'Ghost Accounts'

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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 UAE Digital Currency

CoinDesk, Saudi Arabia, UAE Aim to Cut Payments Costs With Common Digital Currency
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KSA Documentary

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

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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'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 Twitter

KSA twitter rumours on ruling family. 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…

Jamal Khashoggi

Middle East Eye, Jamal Khashoggi: Amateur sleuths scour web for details of 15 Saudi men "Late on Tuesday night, pro-government Turkish outlets published the names and photos of 15 people they claim were involved in Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance, setting off a frantic search among social media users for any publicly available information about the mysterious list."

Extensive coverage of this case on my twitter feed
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