Google removes Malaysian govt app that claimed to return LGBTQ folks to ‘right path’
India Today
Malaysian authorities falsely claimed that the app would help members of the queer community change their sexual orientation. The app has now been taken down from Google Play store.
An app developed by the Malaysian government that claimed to help members of the LGBTQIA+ community “return to the right path” has been taken down by Google for violating the platform's guidelines.
First released in 2016, the gay conversion app 'Hijrah Diri' landed in hot water after being endorsed by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department a couple of days ago. Now, six years since its launch, it has been removed from the Google Play store.
Malaysian authorities falsely claimed that the app would help members of the queer community change their sexual orientation. It also enclosed an ebook that detailed the “true experience" of a gay man who “abandoned homosexual behaviour” during Ramzan.
Hijrah Diri ialah sebuah aplikasi inisiatif JAKIM bersama Yayasan Ihtimam Malaysia untuk bantu golongan LGBT kembali kepada fitrah.Buat masa ini hanya ada di Google Play Store.Untuk muat turun, sil klik pautan di https://t.co/VjGJ7fsfIV pic.twitter.com/KJ7koDZ2M4
After 'Hijrah Diri' was pulled from the Play store, Google said the platform's guidelines do not allow apps “that attempt to deceive users or enable dishonest behaviour including but not limited to apps which are determined to be functionally impossible".
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