MAKKAH, Dec 28: Leading Muslim scholars attending a conference on Wednesday called for pursuing legal cases against those who defame Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The two-day conference, attended by Muslim scholars from all over the world, was organised by the Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL). Entitled “In Defence of the Prophet (peace be upon him)”, the conference called for commissioning a consultative commission to take up legal action in local courts and the International Court of Justice against those who abuse Islam, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and other revered figures.

The MWL also announced plans to launch an international programme to introduce the holy prophet, and the conference called for setting up a fund to support the programme.

The conference called upon Muslim countries and governments to stand united to defend the Islamic faith and its holy prophet. It denounced the smear campaigns aimed at tarnishing the image of the holy prophet and urged Muslims to make all-out efforts to project the true picture of Islam.

The Saudi Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh, presided over the conference, and called upon Muslims to follow the teachings of the holy prophet.