Muslims gather around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque complex in Makkah. AFP

Gulf Today Report

The preacher of the Grand Mosque, Abdullah Awad Al Juhany, appealed to the countries of the world and international organizations to criminalise insulting the prophets and messengers.

In his Friday sermon, Al-Juhany stressed that “insulting the prophets and messengers is a crime, and Muslims’ condemnation of this abuse must be dealt with the law.”

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He said, “Criminal attempts to offend the Messenger, (PBUH), and the Mother of the Believers, Aisha (RA), will not harm the Islamic religion.”

He stressed, "The greatest support for the Prophet (PBUH) is to spread his virtues, publicize his biography, and broadcast the values and teachings of Islam."

During the past few days, the statements offensive to the Prophet aroused widespread condemnation around the world, both at the official and popular levels.

On June 6, the United Nations urged "respect for and tolerance of all religions," in statements to the spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Stephane Dujarric.

In the UAE, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) affirmed the UAE's firm rejection of all practices and behaviors that contradict moral and human values and principles.

The Ministry underscored the need to respect religious symbols and not violate them, as well as confront hate speech and violence.

The Ministry also noted the importance of strengthening the shared international responsibility to spread the values of tolerance and human coexistence while preventing any practices that would inflame the sentiment of followers of different religions.