Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book seeks to contribute to the ongoing debate about the role of new and global media in redefining Islamic practices and Muslims sense of belonging and identity, focusing particularly on Arab Muslims in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and in the diaspora. It discusses intricate triad of media, religion and culture, and how individuals and groups may use new media to reconstruct religious meanings in their lives. The book focuses on Arab Muslim communities in Europe: Dalia Yousef and Rasha Abdulla explore how European Muslims utilize the Internet in handling their hybrid identities, and how the different online platforms reveal the diverse perceptions within the same social and religious groups. It illustrates how global media and cyberspace can serve as a place for contestation, deliberation and even cyberwar, in which offline conflicts are extended online.