Taliban – Virtually Islamic News

Mon 11 Rabi Al Awwal 1448AH 24-8-2026AD
Afghanistan, Afghanistan Internet

Taliban and Smartphones

There’s a comment on smartphones in this: “Tapping on an old-style mobile with a tiny screen, he [governor of Jawzjan province, Abdullah Sarhadi] says a recent ban on smartphones...

Mon 14 Muharram 1448AH 29-6-2026AD
Afghanistan, Afghanistan Internet, Gender, Human Rights, Taliban

Also see: RFE/RL, Taliban Smashes Smartphones As Restrictions Deepen In Afghanistan, 21 Jun 2026 “The Taliban has begun restricting the use of smartphones by government employees, although the order...

Thu 26 Rajab 1447AH 15-1-2026AD
Afghanistan, Afghanistan Internet, Taliban

Taliban Net(s)

Exemplary BBC report: “The Taliban’s supreme leader [Hibatullah Akhundzada] is a man with a deep distrust of the internet; he believes its content to be against Islamic teachings, and...

Wed 9 Rabi Al Thani 1447AH 1-10-2025AD
Afghanistan, Afghanistan Internet, Taliban

Afghanistan Net Restored

BBC News, Afghans rejoice as internet returns after Taliban blackout, 1 Oct 2025. “Afghans have taken to the streets to rejoice in the restoration of internet and telecom services...

Mon 7 Rabi Al Thani 1447AH 29-9-2025AD
Afghanistan, Afghanistan Internet, Censorship, Human Rights, Taliban

Afghanistan Offline

The Taliban have turned off the internet: ⚠️ Update: #Afghanistan is now in the midst of a total internet blackout as Taliban authorities move to implement morality measures, with...

Sun 25 Muharram 1447AH 20-7-2025AD
Afghanistan, Afghanistan Internet, Taliban, UK Government,

Data Leak Afghanistan (updated)

Taliban 'on killing spree of Afghan interpreters' after Government data breach put thousands at risk of reprisals www.lbc.co.uk/politics/uk-… [image or embed] — Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 19 July 2025...

Tue 24 Shawwal 1446AH 22-4-2025AD
Afghanistan, Afghanistan Internet, Taliban

Taliban Surveillance

Definitely worth a listen. “There are over 90,000 hi-definition CCTV cameras in Kabul, watching everyone’s movements. What are the Taliban using this footage for? BBC Afghan Services’ journalist Mahjooba...

Sat 8 Ramadan 1446AH 8-3-2025AD
Afghanistan, Afghanistan Internet, Artificial Intelligence, Gender, Taliban

AI Afghanistan

“Women in Afghanistan have been forced to turn to artificial intelligence for friendship after the Taliban government restricted their rights across the country.”...

Thu 28 Shaban 1446AH 27-2-2025AD
Afghanistan, Afghanistan Internet, Cyber Security, Surveillance, Taliban

Under Taliban Surveillance

Taliban surveillance Inside the Taliban's surveillance network monitoring millions www.bbc.com/news/article…...

Wed 15 Rajab 1446AH 15-1-2025AD
Afghanistan, Afghanistan Internet, Sport

Not cricket

In other news, here's another very important issue (as reported by @yaldahakim.bsky.social). The idea of an Afghan women's team in exile makes perfect sense....

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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