Apple Removes Popular Quran App in China: Report

Apple has taken down an app that allowed customers to learn the Muslim holy ebook, the Quran, in China, in line with a brand new report from the BBC. The app, referred to as Quran Majeed, is extremely fashionable world wide and is at present ranked 51 in Google’s U.S. App Store for reference supplies.

The Quran app was eliminated in China after authorities officers made a request, in line with the BBC, however it’s not clear why the ruling Chinese Communist Party would need the app eliminated. Apple didn’t instantly reply to Gizmodo’s request for clarification early Friday.

As the BBC notes, the Chinese Communist Party acknowledges Islam as a legitimate faith within the nation, however the formally atheist Chinese authorities has confronted criticism worldwide for its therapy of the Muslim-majority Uyghur inhabitants within the northwest province of Xinjiang. Anywhere from 1-3 million Uighurs have reportedly been detained in focus camps over the previous few years, although current experiences counsel most have been released and now stay a lot freer lives than they did even a 12 months in the past.

From a current article by the Associated Press:

It’s arduous to know why Chinese authorities have shifted to subtler strategies of controlling the area. It could also be that searing criticism from the West, together with punishing political and industrial sanctions, have pushed authorities to loosen up. Or it could merely be that China judges it has come far sufficient in its aim of subduing the Uyghurs and different largely Muslim minorities to calm down its grip.

Uyghur activists overseas accuse the Chinese authorities of genocide, pointing to plunging birthrates and the mass detentions. The authorities say their aim is to not eradicate Uyghurs however to combine them, and that harsh measures are essential to curb extremism.

China’s embassy within the U.S. didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark early Friday. Curiously, the Chinese embassy spokesperson has a Gmail account, which is a bit odd, given China’s aversion to Silicon Valley and Big Tech’s shut ties to U.S. intelligence companies.

The U.S. intelligence neighborhood has beforehand bought data from non-public knowledge brokers to be taught extra about individuals who use Muslim prayer apps and Quran apps, in line with a report final 12 months from Vice. The knowledge consists of places of particular person customers, in line with the report.

There’s no suggestion up to now that China’s concern over the Koran app has something to do with U.S. intelligence, however it wouldn’t be the weirdest cause, given all the things that’s at present taking place with the New Cold War. We’ll replace this publish if we hear again from Apple or the Chinese embassy within the U.S.