A Moroccan television station has been forced to apologise for broadcasting a makeup tutorial which encourages women to conceal injuries acquired through domestic violence.

Daytime TV show Sabihayat and its network 2M faced major backlash online after last week’s airing of the controversial segment which offered “beauty tips” to those who wish to “camouflage traces of violence”.

2M has since released a statement through its Facebook account admitting that the feature was “completely inappropriate” considering “the gravity of the subject of violence against women”.

Thousands of people signed a petition on Change.org calling for “severe sanctions” to be brought against the show for attempting to normalise domestic abuse.

“Do not cover domestic violence with makeup, condemn the aggressor,” wrote the page’s founder.

While the model used for the programme’s demonstration wore fake bruises, Twitter users were offended by the suggestion that victims of violence should hide the work of their abusers.

“Instead of giving women makeup tips to hide evidence of #domesticabuse, please teach men how not to abuse women,” wrote one woman.

“Host spends more time talking about the best brand of makeup to cover domestic violence bruises than the actual issue of domestic violence,” said another.

Instead of giving women makeup tips to hide evidence of #domesticabuse, please teach men how not to abuse women #Morocco #VAW https://t.co/GOjwysig7Y

— Tariqa F. Tandon (@tariqaftandon) November 28, 2016

Host spends more time talking about the best brand of makeup to cover domestic violence bruises than the actual issue of domestic violence pic.twitter.com/JUpNyqZ4dY

— Samia Errazzouki (@S_Errazzouki) November 25, 2016