China: Bible App removed from App store

How do you most often read the Bible? Most of us don’t carry a physical Bible around with us anymore – but thanks to our phones, we have almost instant access to God’s Word. That’s a massive blessing and privilege – but in China, where the ruling Chinese Communist Party have been cracking down on religious freedom, popular Bible apps are being removed from app stores.

Recently, the Olive Tree Bible app has been removed from China’s Apple Store after its creators were unable to provide a permit to distribute the app in China during a recent review – this is part of a continuing trend that is seeing the Chinese government assert their control over religious groups in the country.

In China, the sale of online Bibles was banned in 2018 – therefore, many Chinese Christians rely on the Bible apps on their phones to access Scripture.

Dangerous precedent

“This sets a dangerous precedent for religious freedom,” says Dr David Landrum, Director of Advocacy for Open Doors UK & Ireland. “Historically, more than any other influence, it is access to the Bible that has enabled religious freedom, which in turn is the foundation for so many other human rights. This is precisely why the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are so implacably opposed to Chinese people having access to it.

“Although much Apple technology is produced in China, I hope that the company will speak out against this blatant religious discrimination.”

China’s president ‘reining in and realigning religions’

Apple has also taken down a Quran app, the Quran Majeed, from its China store at the government’s request. The removal of both apps was highlighted on Apple Censorship – a website that acts as a watchdog to Apple’s App Store.

A spokesperson from the Olive Tree Bible app told the BBC: “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.”

A local Open Doors partner warns that, under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, the CCP has tightened its control over the country, including its churches and mosques. The partner – who can’t be named for security reasons – says: “Religion is seen as a potential de-stabiliser and certainly not aligned with Chinese socialist ideology. Citizens must ‘be directed’ rather than allowed freedom of speech or belief. It’s as if [President] Xi Jinping believes the time has come to rein in and realign religions, particularly Islam and Christianity.”

Over the last two years, China has risen 26 places on Open Doors’ World Watch List. In the last year, Chinese Christians have seen their WeChat (a popular messaging app) public accounts deleted or blocked by the authorities as the control over cyberspace tightens further. On 4 October, Shenzhen Christian Ms Han Li was sentenced to one year and three months for selling portable digital Bible players.