Saudi King Abdullah demanded a U.N. resolution Saturday condemning insults on religions.
His calls came in response to the deadly protests that have been erupting throughout the Muslim world, which have been widely blamed on a low-budget film mocking the Prophet Mohamed.
“I demand a U.N. resolution that condemns any country or group that insults religions and prophets,” he said during a meeting at his palace with religious figures and heads of hajj delegations, referring to the pilgrimage to Mecca, during which Muslims affirm their submission to the tenets of Islam. “It is our duty and that of every Muslim to protect Islam and defend the prophets.”
Many have claimed that an amateur film, Innocence of Muslims, triggered the wave of deadly anti-American violence throughout the Muslim world, which resulted most notably in the brutal attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi that killed four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya.
Google had restricted access to the film in a number of countries including, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Libya, Egypt, India and others.
The king also called on Saturday for the “unity of the Islamic nation (and) rejecting division to face the nation’s enemies” as he urged for dialogue among Muslims, AFP reported.
“Dialogue strengthens moderation and ends reasons of conflict and extremism,” he said.
“The interconfessional dialogue center which we had announced in Mecca does not necessarily mean reaching agreements on the matters of belief, but it aims at reaching solutions to divisions and implementing co-existence among sects,” he added.