UK politics – Virtually Islamic News

Wed 15 Rajab 1446AH 15-1-2025AD
Elon Musk, Far-right, prosecutions, UK politics

Toxic Politics

Updated Arwa Mahdawi, Guardian, Is Andrew Tate going to reinvent himself as a politician and ‘save Britan [sic]’?, 14 Jan 2025. “ Charity staff 'harassed' after Musk shares X...

Wed 15 Rajab 1446AH 15-1-2025AD
Bangladesh, Politics, UK politics

Tulip Siddiq

Lots of coverage of this ongoing story, including online discussions. Irony meters are running to overload. 🎧 New PAGE 94 Podcast OUT NOW. This week: TULIP-MANIA 🥀 Tulip Siddiq,...

Sun 26 Rabi Al Awwal 1446AH 29-9-2024AD
Anti-Muslim Hate, Anti-Muslim Prejudice, Politics, UK politics

Badenoch

Mon 8 Safar 1446AH 12-8-2024AD
'Islamophobia', Anti-Muslim Hate, Anti-Muslim Prejudice, Mosques, Politics, Southport Tragedy, Streaming Media, UK politics

UK Riots and Aftermath (updated)

This follows my ‘Southport Tragedy‘ post, which required an extended section to cover subsequent developments (and to allow the page to load faster). The pages should be read in...

Counter protester, Southport, holding up anti-racism banner.

Sun 29 Muharram 1446AH 4-8-2024AD
'Islamophobia', Andrew Tate, Anti-Muslim Hate, Anti-Muslim Prejudice, Disinformation, Mosques, policing, Politics, UK politics, Wales, X

Southport Tragedy Responses – Timeline

Updated Opportunist ‘dog whistle ‘ responses to the Southport tragedy include a strong anti-Muslim theme. The attention should be on the victims of the attack in Southport and their...

Thu 5 Muharram 1446AH 11-7-2024AD
Anti-Muslim Hate, Anti-Muslim Prejudice, Politics, UK politics

Anti-Muslim Tweets

The use of the term ‘Mohammedan‘ is particularly dense …

Wed 6 Dhul Hijjah 1445AH 12-6-2024AD
Politics, UK politics

Election UK (updated)

Thu 22 Dhul Qidah 1445AH 30-5-2024AD
Broadcasting Media, Gaza, Gaza Protests, Human Rights, Israel-Gaza Conflict 2024, Israel-Hamas Conflict 2024, Politics, Research, UK politics, United States, War crimes

Social Media and Online Coverage: Israel-Hamas Conflict (Month Eight) – updated

This is the eighth month since the current Israel-Hamas conflict commenced. I have been keeping copies of selected online content since 7 October 2023. Many of these posts feature...

Thu 18 Ramadan 1445AH 28-3-2024AD
UK politics

Social Cohesion Report

Thu 26 Shaban 1445AH 7-3-2024AD
Gaza, Human Rights, Israel-Hamas Conflict 2024, Journalism, Palestine, UK politics

Social Media and Online Coverage: Israel-Hamas Conflict (Month Five) – updated

This is the fifth month since the current Israel-Hamas conflict commenced. I have been keeping copies of selected online content since 7 October 2023. Many of these posts feature...

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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