Apple has taken down one of the world’s most popular Quran apps in China, following a request from officials.
The deletion of the Quran Majeed 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.
In a statement Apple’s Human Rights Policy said: “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”.
Last month, both Apple and Google removed a tactical voting app devised by jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Russian authorities had threatened to fine the two companies if they refused to drop the app, which told users who could unseat ruling party candidates.
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.
Mr 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.
Another popular religious app, Olive Tree’s Bible app, was also taken down this week in China.
On Friday, The Mac Observer reported that Audible, the Amazon owned audiobook and podcast service, removed its app from the Apple store in mainland China last month “due to permit requirements.”
On Thursday, Microsoft said it was shutting down its social network, LinkedIn, in China, saying having to comply with the Chinese state had become increasingly challenging.