A top United Nations official is pressing Myanmar to condemn an extremist monk who insulted an independent expert after she criticized draft laws that look set to discriminate against minorities in the country.

"The sexist, insulting language used against the UN's independent human rights expert on Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, by an influential monk...is utterly unacceptable," U.N. human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement.

The monk, Ashin Wirathu, is a leader of the 969 Movement, which advocates that Myanmar remain a Buddhist country and supports restrictions and boycotts on minority Muslims.

"It is intolerable for U.N. Special Rapporteurs to be treated in this way and I call on religious and political leaders in Myanmar to unequivocally condemn all forms of incitement to hatred including this abhorrent public personal attack against a U.N.-appointed expert," said Zeid.

He noted Lee was fulfilling her brief by addressing key human rights issues and the situation of minorities in the country, particularly the Rohingya Muslim community.

"Indeed she expressed admiration for the commitment of inter-religious leaders to work together in the town of Lashio in Northern Shan State towards maintaining peaceful relations between communities," noted Zeid.

Lee raised serious concerns about the situation in Rakhine State and the plight of internally displaced Muslims living in camps in very difficult conditions.

She also warned that a package of four proposed laws, if passed, would institutionalize discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities.

"Instead of attacking Ms. Lee personally, I invite community, religious and political leaders in Myanmar to tackle the substance of her concerns."

Wirathu spoke at a public rally on January 16 at which he blasted the UN interference and "We have explained about the race protection law, but the bitch criticized the laws without studying them properly," he said from the stage to the crowd.

"Don't assume that you are a respectable person because of your position. For us, you are a whore."

Lee warned that Myanmar appeared to be "backtracking" on democratic reforms as draft legislation involving limits to interfaith marriage and religious conversions are gathering support in parliament.

Activists echoed the U.N. independent expert's sentiment, saying the proposed measures work against women and religious minorities in the Buddhist-dominated country.

Ashin Seinnita , the head of an interfaith group in Mandalay warned about the effect of Wirathu's remarks saying his actions could affect the reputation of other monks.

Seinnita called on the State monk association to rein in Wirathu.

"The State monk association needs to take action on this since the government can't investigate it. But if the monks from the state level remain silent, many questions will arise among the people," Seinnita told ucanews.com.

Zeid maintained that Lee was merely doing her job as a special rapporteur to focus on "key human rights issues and the situation of minorities in the country, particularly the Rohingya Muslim community."