New Delhi

Apple has removed one of the world's most popular Quran apps in China following a request from Chinese authorities. Quran Majeed is available on the App Store worldwide, and has around 150,000 reviews.

However, Apple has removed the app at the request of Chinese authorities for allegedly hosting illegal religious texts, the company said in a statement.

The Chinese government did not respond to a request for comment.

The report said that the app was first spotted by Apple censorship - a website that monitors various applications on Apple's App Store.

The Communist Party of China officially recognizes Islam as a religion in the country.

However, China has often been accused of human rights violations and even genocide against Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang.

It is not clear which rules the app has broken in China. The report said that the Quran Majeed says that it is trusted by more than 35 million Muslims globally.

Last month, both Apple and Google removed a strategic voting app developed by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Russian officials threatened to fine both companies. Russia warned that if they refused to remove the app, action would be taken. It was an app that told users who could remove the ruling party's candidates.

China is one of Apple's largest markets and the company's supply chain is heavily dependent on Chinese manufacturing.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has been accused of hypocrisy by politicians in the US for speaking about American politics but keeping quiet about China.