Syria – Virtually Islamic News

Fri 15 Rabi Al Awwal 1448AH 28-8-2026AD
Research, Syria, Syria Internet

Syrian Response

Syrian Response (English) is now on X, as highlighted by the New Arab’s article (below). No sign of it on BlueSky. I haven’t checked elsewhere yet. The New Arab,...

Mon 18 Shawwal 1447AH 6-4-2026AD
Cyber Security, Syria, Syria Internet

Syrian Cybersecurity

This, from Danny Makki @wired.com "When Syrian government accounts were hijacked in March, the breach looked chaotic. But it revealed something more troubling: a state struggling with the most...

Mon 7 Shaban 1447AH 26-1-2026AD
Syria, Syria Internet

An important piece: Thrilled to share my latest article: "Keeping Syria connected during civil war." A compelling, years-in-the-making story of "Mahmoud," a Syria Telecom network engineer who was on...

Tue 20 Jumada Al Oula 1447AH 11-11-2025AD
Syria, Syria Internet

Syrian Tech

Syria tech transformation plans restofworld.org/2025/syria-t…...

Fri 13 Rabi Al Awwal 1447AH 5-9-2025AD
Syria Internet, Yemen Internet

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV)

Important reporting from Christine Ro @forbes.com on digital violence in Syria (and beyond). [image or embed] — Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 5 September 2025 at 10:26 Here’s the link...

Tue 17 Shawwal 1446AH 15-4-2025AD
Research

Disinformation and Syria

The Assad regime developed a sophisticated media apparatus to discredit opponents, present itself as a defender against terrorism, and justify its actions. This continues, despite the regime's fall as...

Mon 17 Ramadan 1446AH 17-3-2025AD
Human Rights, Journalism, Syria, Syria Internet, War crimes

Syria Violence

Essential viewing (click through for the video) This is from CNN on the Syria situation: "A masked fighter filmed himself parading around the ransacked home, singing “ethnic cleansing, ethnic...

Sun 9 Ramadan 1446AH 9-3-2025AD
Syria

Syria Violence

At least 1,000 people killed in Syria violence www.channel4.com/news/at-leas… [image or embed] — Channel 4 News (@channel4news.bsky.social) 9 March 2025 at 19:12 At least 1,000 people killed in Syria...

Sat 8 Ramadan 1446AH 8-3-2025AD
‘Islamic State', Podcasts, Syria

Inside the Islamic State prisons

Guardian, Inside the Islamic State prisons the world forgot – podcast, 7 Mar 2025 “Michael Safi travelled to north-east Syria to speak to IS foreign fighters imprisoned there. And discovered...

Wed 5 Ramadan 1446AH 5-3-2025AD
Journalism, Syria

Syria report

An excellent and powerful report from Paraic O’Brien in #Syria on @channel4news.bsky.social this evening youtu.be/-9arRFAa5wk?…...

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.

Rabi Al Awwal 1448
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
« Saf				Rb2 »
					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29