Crime – Virtually Islamic News

Wed 5 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 16-9-2026AD
Crime, UAE, UAE Digital

UAE Ransomware

Naturally, the UAE will be a focal point for this kind of activity:

Mon 22 Dhul Hijjah 1447AH 8-6-2026AD
Crime, crypto, Cryptocurrencies, Iran, Iran internet

Iran Crypto Mining

“In an interview with Fars, he...

Tue 19 Shawwal 1447AH 7-4-2026AD
Crime, TikTok

TikTok Issues and Criminality

A well-researched and thorough article on the representation of criminality on TikTok and its impact on Palestinians … An important long read from @972mag.com with a focus on TikTok...

Fri 30 Jumada Al Oula 1447AH 21-11-2025AD
Crime, crypto, Cryptocurrencies, Hacking, Indonesia, Indonesia Internet

Vismaya V, Decrypt, Indonesia Detains Hacker Tied to Markets.com Crypto Theft After $398K Loss, 21 Nov 2025 “Authorities say the suspect exploited weak backend validation to manipulate USDT balances...

Sat 17 Jumada Al Oula 1447AH 8-11-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, Crime, UAE, UAE Digital

UAE Deepfake Warning

UAE deepfake AI warnings: "A deepfake scam uses AI to manipulate victims into sending money, revealing sensitive information, or taking other actions beneficial to the scammer."...

Sat 11 Dhul Hijjah 1446AH 7-6-2025AD
Crime, Gender, Pakistan, Pakistan Internet, TikTok

Pakistan Influencer Murder

Abubakar Siddique, RFE/RL, Teenage TikTok Star’s Killing Sparks Outrage Over Violence Against Women In Pakistan, 6 June 20205 “For many women in Pakistan, the latest killing of a social...

Fri 1 Shaban 1446AH 31-1-2025AD
Crime, Digital British Islam, Islamic finance, Research

Faith and Fraud in the Digital Age

New from my colleague Dr Alamgir Ahmed: Our second new article is Dr Alamgir Ahmed's ‘Faith and Fraud in the Digital Age: Financial Scams Targeting Muslims Online‘ – which...

Elon Musk image on a phone, union jack background

Fri 1 Shaban 1446AH 31-1-2025AD
Crime, Elon Musk

“Elon Musk, Grooming Gangs and British Muslims”

From my colleague Dr Sadek Hamid: One of two new Digital British Islam articles – this one by Dr Sadek Hamid: digitalbritishislam.com/elon-musk-gr…...

Sat 21 Jumada Al Oula 1446AH 23-11-2024AD
Crime, Migration, prosecutions, Wales

People Smuggler ‘Reviews‘

This case has an online element, as the accused posted reviews of their ‘services‘ online. In case you missed this … This was top stories on Radio 4 this...

Fri 6 Jumada Al Oula 1446AH 8-11-2024AD
Crime, Kurds, Migration, People smuggling

Smuggler Social Media

Sky News, Iranian man described as ‘the best smuggler’ convicted after helping migrants cross Channel, 8 Nov 2024. “Amanj Hasan Zada, 34, from Preston, advertised on social media and...

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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