Cyprus' top law official, Attorney General Costas Clerides, on Thursday instructed police to open an investigation into a Greek Orthodox bishop for possible hate speech over homophobic and anti-scientific comments he made last month.

Bishop Neophytos of Morphou claimed that gay babies are the result of women who enjoy anal sex during their pregnancy. He argued that when a "woman enjoys that, a desire is created, and then the desire is passed on to the child."

He also claimed gay men have a smell that makes them identifiable, and has said it is hypocritical to mourn the child victims of a serial killer if you also support a woman's right to have an abortion.

The launching of an investigation follows a statement from the government saying it was "greatly troubled and dismayed" by the bishop's comments, adding they were needlessly stirring up social unrest and were an "insult [to] the dignity and equality" of Cypriots, AFP reports.

Costas Gavrielides, an adviser to President Nicos Anastasiades on acceptance and diversity, requested action on hate speech, noting there have been no investigations nor legal proceedings launched against homophobic and transphobic speech in the four years since it was outlawed.