Virtually Islamic News – Page 93 – Researching Islam, Muslims and the Internet

Thu 8 Dhul Qidah 1445AH 16-5-2024AD
Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Russia, Ukraine

Generative AI

I’ve been experimenting with generative AI and will discuss it in future work.

Thu 8 Dhul Qidah 1445AH 16-5-2024AD
Elon Musk, ISWAP

ISWAP + Starlink

I’m not sure Elon Musk saw this one coming … let’s see what the response is.

Thu 8 Dhul Qidah 1445AH 16-5-2024AD
Digital divide, Malaysia, Malaysia Internet

Rural locations are missing out on quality connectivity. How does that impact the dissemination of religious messages and ideas about interpretation? It would make an interesting research project/PhD (I’d...

Mon 5 Dhul Qidah 1445AH 13-5-2024AD
Gaza, Gaza Protests, Israel-Gaza Conflict 2024

#Blockout2024

Sarah Shamim, Al Jazeera, Why are social media users blocking celebrities over Israel’s Gaza war?, 13 May 2024 The growing protest efforts against Israel’s war on Gaza have now spawned a cyberspace movement...

Sun 4 Dhul Qidah 1445AH 12-5-2024AD
Iran, Iran internet

Khamenei’s Granddaughter Viral False Claim

Fri 2 Dhul Qidah 1445AH 10-5-2024AD
Afghanistan, Afghanistan Internet, Broadcasting Media, Taliban

Taliban TV Warning

Screenshot: Afghanistan International TV https://www.afintl.com/, 13 May 2024 AP/Arab News, Taliban warn journalists and experts against cooperating with Afghanistan International TV, 10 May 2024 “The Taliban on Thursday warned...

Fri 2 Dhul Qidah 1445AH 10-5-2024AD
'Islamophobia', Anti-Muslim Hate, Anti-Muslim Prejudice, Broadcasting Media

GB News

Tue 28 Shawwal 1445AH 7-5-2024AD
Iran internet, Iran Protests 2024, Iranian internet, Iranian Social Media

Iran Cyberpolice in Crackdown

RFE/RL’s Radio Farda, Iranian Cyberpolice To Ratchet Up Crackdown On Social Media Critics, 6 May 2024 “The cyberpolice recently blocked several popular social media pages — including Instagram, as...

Tue 28 Shawwal 1445AH 7-5-2024AD
Human Rights, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia Internet

KSA and Human Rights

Tom Levitt, The Guardian, ‘They’ve destroyed us because of some tweets’: why has Saudi Arabia targeted these three sisters?, 7 May 2024 “Last week one was sentenced to 11...

Tue 28 Shawwal 1445AH 7-5-2024AD
Iran internet, Iran Protests 2022, Iranian internet, Iranian Social Media

Iran Judiciary Sentences Online Activist

Arab News, Iran sentences man to death for posts during 2022 protests, 7 May 2024 “The judiciary’s Mizan Online website said Mahmoud Mehrabi was found guilty of posting content...

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:

UAE Data Centres Thu 18 Jumada Al Oula 1448AH 29-10-2026AD

Iran’s Hidden Web of Military Agencies Thu 18 Jumada Al Oula 1448AH 29-10-2026AD

Satellites above KSA Wed 17 Jumada Al Oula 1448AH 28-10-2026AD

Handala Hack Wed 17 Jumada Al Oula 1448AH 28-10-2026AD

Dar al-Ifta Haseen platform Mon 15 Jumada Al Oula 1448AH 26-10-2026AD

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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