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Apple takes down Quran app in China

BI Desk || BusinessInsider

Published: 21:19, 16 October 2021   Update: 21:52, 16 October 2021
Apple takes down Quran app in China

Picture: Collected

Apple has taken down one of the world's most popular Quran apps in China, following a request from officials.

Quran Majeed is available across the world on the App Store - and has nearly 150,000 reviews. It is used by millions of Muslims, reports BBC on Friday.

The Chinese government has not responded to the BBC's request for comment.
The deletion of the app was first noticed by Apple Censorship - a website that monitors apps on Apple's App Store globally.

In a statement from the app's maker, PDMS, the company said: "According to Apple, our app Quran Majeed has been removed from the China App store because it includes content that requires additional documentation from Chinese authorities".

"We are trying to get in touch with the Cyberspace Administration of China and relevant Chinese authorities to get this issue resolved".

The company said it had close to one million users in China.

The Chinese Communist Party officially recognises Islam as a religion in the country.
However, China has been accused of human rights violations, and even genocide, against the mostly Muslim Uyghur ethnic group in Xinjiang.

Apple declined to comment, but directed the BBC to its Human Rights Policy, which states: "We're required to comply with local laws, and at times there are complex issues about which we may disagree with governments."

However, it is not clear what rules the app has broken in China. Quran Majeed says it is "trusted by over 35 million Muslims globally".

China is one of Apple's biggest markets, and the company's supply chain is heavily reliant on Chinese manufacturing.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook has been accused of hypocrisy from politicians in the US for speaking out about American politics, but staying quiet about China.

Cook criticised Donald Trump's ban of seven Muslim-majority countries in 2017.

However, he is also accused of complying with the Chinese government over censorship - and not publicly criticising it for its treatment of Muslim minorities.

Benjamin Ismail, project director at Apple Censorship, said: "Currently Apple is being turned into the censorship bureau of Beijing.

"They need to do the right thing, and then face whatever the reaction is of the Chinese government."

Another popular religious app, Olive Tree's Bible app, was also taken down this week in China. The company told the BBC they had removed the app themselves.

"Since we did not have the permit and needed to get our app update approved and out to customers, we removed our Bible app from China's App Store," said a spokesperson.

Nagad
Walton