The BBC was forced to delete a tweet after it asked its followers to debate whether they 'respected' the decision of a Saudi Arabian refugee who was fleeing murder threats.

BBC Asian Network asked its followers to debate the choices of 18-year-old Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who took to Twitter on Monday to plead for her life after Saudi officials and Thai immigration officials stopped her in Bangkok and confiscated her passport. She was on her way to Australia, escaping her family who she claimed would kill her for disobeying them.

Ms al-Qunun was given refugee status by the United Nations office for Refugees (UNHCR) because of the threats on her life and Australia is now deciding whether to grant her request for asylum

Shortly after her official refugee status was decided, the BBC radio station tweeted: "18-year-old Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun fled Saudi Arabia as she said her family would kill her for choosing to leave Islam - do you respect her decision?"

This was met with a furious response by activists and MPs.