Enough with the threats and intimidation. It’s not going to work.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The head of a leading Islamic organization Saturday called for a global ban on offending the character of the Prophet Muhammad, saying that it should be equated with hate speech.

Such a ban would demonstrate how an interconnected world respected different cultural sensitivities, said Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in an interview with The Associated Press.

“If the Western world fails to understand the sensitivity of the Muslim world, then we are in trouble,” Ihsanoglu said. Such provocations pose “a threat to international peace and security and the sanctity of life.”

Ihsanoglu’s remarks follow protests that erupted in Muslim countries after a low-budget film, “Innocence of Muslims,” produced by a U.S. citizen denigrated the Prophet Muhammad by portraying Islam’s holiest figure as a fraud, womanizer and child molester.

Ihsanoglu, whose organization represents 57 Muslim-majority countries, said they respect the right of freedom of expression, but believed a line had to be drawn at incitement.

“We are not saying stop free speech. We are staying stop hate speech,” Ihsanoglu said.