22 Feb 2007

Islamist Websites as an Integral Part of Jihad: A General Overview
The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), Washington, DC, US
Self-description:
"Inquiry and Analysis Series - No. 328 - Jihad and Terrorism Studies, February 21, 2007 Islamist Websites as an Integral Part of Jihad: A General Overview - By Y. Yehoshua."
Extract:
"Alongside military jihad on various battlefields, Islamist organizations are engaged in another type of warfare: jihad on the media front. The media is viewed by Islamist organizations both as an important battlefield and as an effective tool, and they consequently make extensive use of it. [...] This paper will discuss the distinguishing characteristics of the websites of Islamist organizations and their supporters; the various online activities through which terrorist organizations assist the mujahideen on the ground, both militarily and, especially, with propaganda; and the Internet polemics that these organizations conduct vis-a-vis their enemies." - Y. Yehoshua
Site contents:
INTRODUCTION; 1. THE INTERNET IN THE SERVICE OF ISLAMIST ORGANIZATIONS; 1.1. Main Characteristics of Islamist Websites; 1.2. Most Islamist Websites Hosted in the West; 1.3. Islamist Organizations' Use of Internet Services; 1.3.1. Websites; 1.3.1.1. Official websites of Islamist organizations; 1.3.1.2. Official websites of religious scholars supporting the Islamist organizations; 1.3.1.3. Unofficial websites supporting the organizations; 1.3.2. Forums; 2. ISLAMIST ORGANIZATIONS' INTERNET ACTIVITIES: AN INTEGRAL PART OF JIHAD; 3. MAIN GOALS OF ONLINE PROPAGANDA; 3.1. Glorifying the Organization's Activities; 3.2. Spreading the Organizations' Ideology; 3.3. Legitimizing the Organizations' Activity; 3.4. Threatening and Influencing the Enemy; 4. THE INTERNET AS A FRONT OF CONFRONTATION WITH THE ENEMIES; 4.1. Hacker Activities in Both Camps; 4.2. Alleged Activity by Western and Arab Intelligence Services on Islamist Forums; 4.3. Attempts to Conduct Dialogue with Individuals on Islamist Sites with the Aim of Reforming Them; 5. References & Notes.

Earlier MEMRI articles on related topics include:
* Islamist Forum Participants Discuss Threat to Islamist Sites and Ways to Avoid Exposure On-Line (February 14, 2007) http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP146207
* Islamist Sites in French - An Overview (December 21, 2006) http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=IA30806
* Online Fatwas Incite Young Muslims to Jihad (October 26, 2006) http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP133506
* Muslim Brotherhood Children's Website (April 18, 2006) http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP114106
* Terrorist and Inciting Messages on Yahoo (December 6, 2005) http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP103905
[The author, Y. Yehoshua, is Director of Research at MEMRI. - ed. ]
URL http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=IA32807
Internet Archive (www.archive.org) - the paper was not archived at the time of this abstract. However, in a few weeks time it will be available at http://web.archive.org/web/* /http://memri.org/jihad.html - ed.
Link reported by: T. Matthew Ciolek (tmciolek--at--coombs.anu.edu.au)
* Resource type [news - documents - study - corporate info. - online guide]: Study
* Publisher [academic - business - government - library/museum - NGO - other]: NGO
* Scholarly usefulness [essential - v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]: V.Useful
* External links to the resource [over 3,000 - under 3,000 - under 1,000 - under 300 - under 100 - under 30]: under 30