Muslim sites offer alternative to Facebook
Fed up with social networking sites, net-savvy Muslims create Arabic 'Brothers', 'Ladies' books
The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt has joined a growing trend started by internet-savvy citizens of Arab countries by creating their own social networking site, which they hope will give Facebook a run for its money while relaying Muslim values.
Op-Ed
Nitzan Sadan
Many soldiers post personal content online with very little regard for potential harm to IDF's image
Thus, for example, last October Arab net-surfers attempted to organize a three-day boycott of Facebook because of what they described as "the increase of anti-Muslim groups on the networking site".
The boycott was a resounding failure, but then the Kuwaiti Al-Jareeda reported that Egypt had established a 'Facebook police' to spy on bloggers who dare exhibit anti-regime sentiment in their posts.
These and other cases have led to a surprising response: Local social networking sites such as that of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's leading opposition group.
The group calls its site 'IkhwanBook' (or 'Brothers' Book'), and states that its motto is to spread moderate Islam. Though it is still in developmental stages, the site has already netted over 5,000 members.
"The site was established in order to stress that the brotherhood can create a global product," Arab news agencies quoted Abed al-Munam Mahmoud, a young journalist belonging to the group, as saying.
But social networking isn't only for 'brothers', as proved by the recently launched Arabic 'Sydhat Book' (or 'Ladies' Book'). The site prohibits the entry of men, and presents itself as the "first female Facebook of the Arabic world".
The sites preserve Islamic fundaments by prohibiting men and women to mix, and do not allow ads displaying women without a headdress. However the novelty of Ladies' Book is that it allows women to share their opinions about love, marriage, and relationships far from prying eyes.
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
No ads with uncovered women
Photo: AP
מומלצים
