Gulf Bloc Condemns Anti-Islam Film, Violence

The Gulf Cooperation Council on Friday condemned an anti-Islam film as well as the violence it has triggered, as Bahrain ordered that websites carrying the movie be blocked.

"This film cannot be accepted or excused as it abuses the feelings of Muslims and non-Muslims who reject insulting prophets, religions and beliefs," GCC Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani said in a statement.

Zayani also "condemned acts of violence against U.S. embassies in some countries," adding that "our anger... is no excuse to such carry out such attacks that only serve the low and suspicious aims of those who produced it."

The GCC chief called for the issue to be dealt with "wisely" and for those who carry out or support such attacks to be punished.

Meanwhile, Bahrain's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa ordered "the blocking and stopping of websites carrying the film mocking" the Muslim Prophet Mohammed, according to state news agency BNA.

Citizens were urged "not to participate in broadcasting the film by sharing it on social media networks," and advised against allowing their children to watch it.

Protests over a trailer for the anti-Islam film on YouTube first broke out Tuesday in Egypt and Libya, where the U.S. consulate in Benghazi came under attack by an armed mob which killed the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans.

The protests have since spread across other Arab and Muslim countries.

The low-budget movie "Innocence of Muslims," in which actors have strong American accents, portrays Muslims as immoral and gratuitously violent.

It pokes fun at the Prophet Mohammed and touches on themes of pedophilia and homosexuality, while showing him sleeping with women, talking about killing children and referring to a donkey as "the first Muslim animal."