March 2023 – Page 7 – Virtually Islamic News

Sun 20 Shaban 1444AH 12-3-2023AD
Censorship, Pakistan Internet, Politics

Pakistan and ‘Free Speech’

Amber Rahim Shamsi, Dawn, Bleep Bleep: Pemra’s wobbly dance with free speech, 11 March 2023, “How do you contain anger, accusation, propaganda and political hyperbole? And what do you...

Sat 19 Shaban 1444AH 11-3-2023AD
Research

VPN Use

Karl Finders, Computer Weekly, Millions in the Arab world use VPNs to overcome restrictions and bandwidth throttling “The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has the highest VPN download rate in the world,...

Sat 19 Shaban 1444AH 11-3-2023AD
Research

Chris Burt, Biometric Update, Pakistan Telecom Authority and NADRA to work together on multi-finger biometrics, 7 Mar 2023 “The collaboration will cover work on digital identity, a multi-finger biometric...

Sat 19 Shaban 1444AH 11-3-2023AD
Research

Anwar Ibrahim

Joseph Sipala, SCMP, Anwar has Malaysia’s murky defence deals in his sights. Can he plug the leaks and ‘rebuild credibility’?, 6 Mar 2023 Opinion/analysis. Interesting here for references to...

Sat 19 Shaban 1444AH 11-3-2023AD
Religious Authority

Al-Moubayed

The New Arab, Missing Saudi cleric ‘flees kingdom’ after controversial video, 8 Mar 2023“Emad Al-Moubayed, a preacher who allegedly criticised recent reforms in Saudi Arabia’s entertainment industry, posted a...

Thu 17 Shaban 1444AH 9-3-2023AD
Books, Gary R. Bunt, Research

Heştek İslam

Gary R. Bunt, Heştek İslam: Si̇ber-İslami̇ Ortamlar Di̇ni̇ Otori̇teyi̇ Nasil Dönüştürür? (trans. Mehmet Ali Başak & Aziz Akkaya) (Istanbul: Adab Yayınları, 2022). eBook. Basılı sürüm Aralık 2022’de satışa sunulacak...

Thu 17 Shaban 1444AH 9-3-2023AD
Gary R. Bunt

Virtually Islamic Blog – New Version

Salam. This is the new version of the Virtually Islamic blog. Technical issues have meant that the previous version has ceased. Archived copies of blog posts up until November...

Wed 16 Shaban 1444AH 8-3-2023AD
Research

Malaysia ‘IS’ Video

Coconuts KL, Malaysia police tell public not to panic after reports of Islamic State propaganda in the country, 7 Mar 2023 “The Malaysian public need not panic as the...

Mon 14 Shaban 1444AH 6-3-2023AD
Cryptocurrencies, Egypt Internet

Egypt Crypto Scam

Al Jazeera, Egypt arrests dozens over alleged online crypto scam, 6 Mar 2023 “Egyptian authorities say they have arrested 29 people accused of running an online cryptocurrency scheme.”

Sun 13 Shaban 1444AH 5-3-2023AD
Indonesia Internet, TikTok

TikTok Takedown Videos

Business Insider, TikTok has taken down ‘poverty porn’ videos of women shivering in mud baths and crying after a government banned them, 5 Mar 2023 “The trend known as...

Islamic Algorithms – book cover

Gary R. Bunt, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2024)

Explore the book

Paperback, hardback and ebook editions are available now.

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Prof. Gary R. Bunt, 2026

Comments

“Gary Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms explores the dynamic relationship between technology shifts and the evolving engagement of Muslims online. Bunt emphasises the unchanging core of Islam, adapting its expression to developing technology. A testament to Bunt’s brilliance in the ever-changing Cyber Islamic Environments, this is a must-read for those interested in Islamic studies, digital Islam and Muslim metaverses.” ―Eva Nisa, Senior Lecturer of Anthropology, The Australian National University, Australia

“A timely and insightful exploration, the book offers a concise yet comprehensive glimpse into the evolving landscape of Cyber Islamic Environments. From the serene halls of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque to the potential realms of Muslim metaverses, this book takes readers on a journey to unveil the dynamic relationship between Islam and technology. In a world where smartphones guide prayers and iPads connect elders in study groups, Bunt shares a compelling and timely perspective on the evolving relationship between Islam, technology and the digital age.” ―Umar Ryad, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Leuven, Belgium

Bibliography and Glossary

Review by Michael Dhanoya (University of Leicester) in LSE Blogs

“Islamic Algorithms is a great contribution to the topic of Digital Religion …”

Review in The Muslim World‘ by Dr Akif Tahiiev of Goethe-Universitat Frankfurt am Main

‘Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms liefert detaillierte Einblicke in die digitalen Räume von AkteurInnen, die sich auf unterschiedliche Weise auf den Islam “

“Gary R. Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms provides detailed insights into the digital spaces of actors who relate to Islam in various ways.*

* Google Translation

Margareta Wetchy, Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms unter der Lupe, Machine Against the Rage

“Overall, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse is crucial to contemporary Islamic studies. The book is highly recommended for researchers, academics, and practitioners interested in the interaction between
technology and religion.” Reza Adeputra Tohis and Zulkifli Mansyur, Religion & Theology, 32 (2025): Issue 1-2 (Jun 2025) [PDF]

” … Bunt’s volume is an important step forward in understanding the importance of digital discourse to contemporary Islamic traditions and Muslim communities.” James Riggan, Reading Religion (American Academy of Religion)

“Islamic Algorithms provides a timely and thoughtful examination of how Islam, algorithms, and digital culture intersect. It is a valuable resource for scholars and researchers interested in digital presence of Islam, and digital culture both in theory and practice.” Mohamed Taher, Middle Eastern Librarians Association

Book cover: Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘

Gary R. Bunt’s chapter ‘Şeyh Google’dan Yapay Zekâ İmama Mı?: Müslüman Dijital Mecralarda İslami Etki ve Otoritenin Dönüşümü‘?‘ (trans. Necmiye Durmuş) is available in ‘Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘ edited by Mehmet Ali Başak (Eskiyeni). The original version was in

Scharia im Wandel edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024).

Available from:

AI ‘Fake Journalism‘ Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Starlink Test Implications Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Virtually Islamic on Substack Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Iran AI Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Indonesia Online Gambling Thu 27 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 8-10-2026AD

Scharia im Wandel book cover. Showing figures reading, a stack of books, and the background of a minaret and mosque dome.

My chapter, “From Sheikh Google to ImamAI? Evolving Islamic Influence and Authority in Muslim Digital Worlds,” is published in “Scharia im Wandel. Beiträge zur Transformation islamischer Autorität im Spannungsfeld von Kodifikation, Migration und Digitalisierung,” edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024). Studies on Islamic Cultural and Intellectual History, Noorhaidi Hasan et al.

The book is the result of a 2022 conference at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

A Turkish version of the chapter is in preparation for publication in 2026.

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