Saudi Arabia Internet – Page 8 – Virtually Islamic News

Thu 24 Shaban 1444AH 16-3-2023AD
Gender, Human Rights, LGBTQ+, Medical, Saudi Arabia Internet, Trans

Saudi Trans Issues

There are online elements to this account: Anya Zoledziowski and Tim Marchman, Vice, A Young Saudi Trans Woman Is Believed Dead After Being Lured From the US and Forced...

Wed 23 Shaban 1444AH 15-3-2023AD
Artificial Intelligence, Education, Saudi Arabia Internet

AI MENA Education

Jumana Khamis, Arab News, How AI and remote learning platforms are transforming education in the Middle East, 15 March 2023 “As the market for these tools continues to grow...

Wed 2 Shaban 1444AH 22-2-2023AD
Architecture, Saudi Arabia Internet

Mukaab

Trace William Cowen, The Complex, Saudi Arabia Reveals Plans for Cube-Shaped Skyscraper the Size of 20 Empire State Buildings “Plans for a cube-shaped skyscraper in Saudi Arabia’s capital promise...

Sun 22 Jumada Al Akhira 1444AH 15-1-2023AD
Saudi Arabia Internet

Awad Al-Qarni

The Guardian, Saudi prosecutors seek death penalty for academic over social media use, 15 Jan 2023 “Court documents reveal reasons for Awad Al-Qarni’s arrest – even though rulers are...

Thu 19 Jumada Al Akhira 1444AH 12-1-2023AD
Saudi Arabia Internet

KSA Dance Arrest

#Saudi woman arrested with 2 male friends for posting this dance clip filmed in #Jeddah on TikTok #السعودية pic.twitter.com/n2jY7KZ7Zl— sebastian usher (@sebusher) January 12, 2023

Thu 19 Jumada Al Akhira 1444AH 12-1-2023AD
Hajj, Mecca, Pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia Internet, umrah

Asharq al-Awsat, ‘Smart Haram’ Project to Pave Way for Comprehensive Digital Transformation “The project aims to harness technology and expand e-applications and e-platforms to achieve a comprehensive digital transformation...

Wed 4 Safar 1444AH 31-8-2022AD
Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia Internet

KSA Imprisonment

BBC News, Nourah al-Qahtani: Saudi woman jailed for 45 years for social media posts “A terrorism court convicted Nourah bint Saeed al-Qahtani of “using the internet to tear the...

Thu 20 Muharram 1444AH 18-8-2022AD
Human Rights, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia Internet

Saudi Arabia: Salma al-Shehab

Sky News, Salma al-Shehab: Leeds student jailed in Saudi Arabia is being used ‘to set an example’ and must be ‘immediately released’, says Amnesty International “Ms al-Shehab, who was...

Sat 15 Muharram 1444AH 13-8-2022AD
Saudi Arabia Internet

Twitter Agent

Joel Rosenblatt and Robert Burnson, Bloomberg, Former Twitter Employee Convicted of Spying for Saudi Arabia“A former Twitter Inc. employee was convicted of spying for Saudi Arabia by turning over...

Wed 28 Dhul Hijjah 1443AH 27-7-2022AD
Egypt Internet, LGBTQ+, Saudi Arabia Internet

TikTok Issues

Sebastian Usher, BBC News, Tala Safwan: Egyptian TikToker held in Saudi over ‘immoral’ video, 26 Jul 2022 “Tala Safwan, who has five million followers on TikTok and some 800,000...

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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