Iraq – Virtually Islamic News

Wed 26 Dhul Qidah 1447AH 13-5-2026AD
Hacking, Iraq, Iraq Internet

eBay Hacked

"The shadowy “Islamic Cyber Resistance in Iraq – 313 Team” claimed responsibility for the assault on eBay, which reportedly triggered widespread outages and left users unable to browse listings,...

Sun 16 Ramadan 1446AH 16-3-2025AD
‘Islamic State', Iraq

Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai

Al Jazeera, Iraq says ‘dangerous’ ISIL leader Abu Khadija killed, 15 Mar 2025. “Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said on Friday that Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufay’i, also known as...

Mon 20 Shawwal 1445AH 29-4-2024AD
Influencers, Iraq, Iraq Internet, TikTok

Baghdad Influencer Murdered

The National, Iraq investigates killing of TikTok influencer in Baghdad, 27 April 2024 “A “specialised work team” had been set up to investigate the circumstances of the death of...

Wed 17 Ramadan 1445AH 27-3-2024AD
Iraq, Iraq Internet, TikTok

Arab News, Iraqi minister proposes TikTok ban over societal concerns, 27 Mar 2024 “Iraq’s communications minister has formally requested the country’s Cabinet to block Chinese-owned app TikTok over worries...

Fri 23 Jumada Al Akhira 1445AH 5-1-2024AD
‘Islamic State', Iraq, Maps, Research, Syria

‘Islamic State‘ Interactive Map

Aaron Zelin at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy has produced an Islamic State Select Worldwide Activity Interactive Map, exploring different iterations and associated platforms. Details:

Thu 22 Jumada Al Akhira 1445AH 4-1-2024AD
Iraq

Iraq: Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba Attacked

Al Jazeera, Iraq blames US-led coalition for deadly drone strike in Baghdad, 4 Jan 2024 “The strike on Thursday targeted the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), also known as Hashd...

Thu 22 Safar 1445AH 7-9-2023AD
Crime, Gender, Iraq, Iraq Internet, YouTube

Iraqi YouTube star ‘honour killing’

Gem O’Reilly, BBC News, The Iraqi YouTube star killed by her father, 7 Sep 2023 “Tiba’s death sparked protests across Iraq about its laws regarding so-called “honour killings”, the...

Tue 28 Muharram 1445AH 15-8-2023AD
Artificial Intelligence, Iraq, Iraq Internet, Radio

Iraq AI News

Mohammad Ayesh, Middle East Eye, Not so paranoid about androids: Iraqi radio lauds AI, 15 Aug 2023 “A local Iraqi radio station based in the city of Mosul has resorted to using artificial...

Wed 22 Muharram 1445AH 9-8-2023AD
Cinema, Gender, Iraq, Kuwait,, Lebanon, LGBTQ+

Barbie-ban

Aimee Look and Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN, Lebanon bans ‘Barbie’ movie for ‘promoting homosexuality’, 9 August 2023 “Authorities in Lebanon moved to ban the “Barbie” movie from cinemas on Wednesday, saying it...

Fri 3 Muharram 1445AH 21-7-2023AD
Basra,, History, Iraq, Iraq Internet, Mosques

Minaret Demolition

AP/alarabiya, Unraveling history: Demolition of Basra’s minaret sparks cultural preservation debate, 20 July 2023 “In the early hours Friday morning, the 11-meter-high (33-foot-high) minaret was razed to the ground,...

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:

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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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