The leader of Egypt’s largest ultra-orthodox Islamist party has called on Egypt’s president and other Muslim leader to demand that the U.N. criminalize contempt of religion in the wake of the release of the now infamous anti-Islam film which has sparked protests worldwide.

Emad Abdel Ghaffour of the Salafist Nour Party is hoping Muslim leaders speak up against what he believes to be growing racism at next week’s U.N. General Assembly. "We call for legislation or a resolution to criminalize contempt of Islam as a religion and its Prophet," said Ghaffour.

"The voice of reason in the West will prevail if there is mutual respect, dialogue and efficient lobbying for this critical resolution," he told Reuters in an interview.