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A programme has drawn criticismÌýand calls for an investigation after it aired comments during a broadcast.

Homophobic comments were airedÌýduring its BBC Trending programme, which is produced inÌý and reaches some 42 million people across the Arab world, as well as in the UK.

The show shares viewers’ online comments, sourced from social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, with trending news stories.

Campaigners noticed that several of its segments contained anti-LGBTQ+ statements which were read out by the programme's presenter.

One segment in January 2020 talked about the arrest of "two homosexuals"Ìýin Mauritania after a video of a birthday party, and another story covered objections in Bahrain over the raising of the rainbow flag at the US Embassy for Pride month.

One comment suggested coronavirus is a result of homosexuality, while another said gay men should be jailed for life.

Campaigners say the material breaches broadcasting guidelines.

LGBTQ+ campaigner Peter Tatchell called the remarksÌý"hate speech".

Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, said:

"At taxpayer's expense, BBC Arabic has given a platform to homophobic hate speech. Its presenters publicised sickening denunciations of LGBT+ people, without any dissent or criticism."

The BBCÌýlater released a statement apologising to viewers, admitting "these broadcasts did not meet our editorial standards".

Tatchell slammed BBC'sÌýresponse as "not good enough".

"You would expect the BBC to apologise live on the Arabic service where the homophobic hate speech was broadcast, Tatchell said. "But as far as I am aware it has not done so."