Virtually Islamic Blog

Gary R. Bunt

Once Upon a Time in Iraq

The conclusion of an excellent series, including discussion on ‘Mosul Eye’ (which I refer to in Hashtag Islam). Discover More…

Husham al Hashimi

Independent, Husham al Hashimi: Renowned Iraqi scholar assassinated outside his home in Baghdad Discover More…

'The Brighton Jihadists'

The Observer, The Brighton jihadists: bullied brothers who went into battle
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Yazidi Victim Confronts Perpetrator

Lena Kara, Mail Online, 'Do you have feelings? Do you have any honour?' Discover More…

Iran Cable Leak

Leaked Iran cables in focus here:
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Shoura

VOA News, Shoura: An experiment in reconciliation in post-Islamic State Iraq, 31 Aug 2019
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Iraq Protests (updated)

Iraq protests - selected links and information Discover More…

Mosul Eye Profile

BBC News, Fighting the Islamic State group online
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IS Chemical Weapons Expert

VOA, Iraq Sentences Islamic State’s Woman Chemical Weapons Expert Discover More…

Yazidi Survival

BBC Outlook, Secret SMS texts saved my family from IS
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Kotey & Elsheikh Interview

CNN, One of the ISIS 'Beatles' says he's sorry. Will confessions save these fighters from death row? Discover More…

Belgian IS Fighter

Kurdistan24, Belgian ISIS fighter confesses to group's use of chemical weapons, chlorine

This article highlights the issues associated with radicalisation, providing a perspective on a Belgian recruit to "Islamic State".

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IS 'caliphate' 'ended'

Guardian, Isis defeated, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces announce
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IS reconfiguration

Washington Post, As the ‘caliphate crumbles,’ the Islamic State is seeding a new insurgency Discover More…

Hair-raising hipsters of Baghdad

Guardian, The hair-raising hipsters of Baghdad – in pictures
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Basra Rap

Nabil al-Jurani and Qassim Abdul Zahra, Associated Press/ABC, Iraqi rapper gives angry youth in city of Basra music outlet
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Sistani profile

TRT World, Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani’s influence over Iraq
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Iraq's Post ISIS Campaign of Revenge

A sobering essential long-read by Ben Taub (and associated photographers): New Yorker, Shallow Graves/Iraq's Post ISIS Campaign of Revenge Discover More…

True Origins of ISIS

Hassan Hassan, The Atlantic, The True Origins of ISIS: A secret biography suggests that Abu Ali al-Anbari defined the group’s radical approach more than any other person, 30 Nov 2018
Important article from Hassan Hassan.

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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
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