Another Australian Islamic cleric is in the news, whining and seething that Muslims are being persecuted: Muslim controversy spreads to Melbourne.

THE focus on controversial Australian Muslim leaders has shifted from Sydney to Melbourne.

Just as Sydney’s Sheik Taj al-Din al-Hilaly takes leave after his comments about women, the spotlight fell on comments by a Melbourne cleric, Sheik Mohammed Omran. Sheik Omran reportedly told his flock on Friday judges discriminate against Muslim rapists. He said rapes committed by Australian non-Muslims such as bikies or football stars were treated more leniently than those committed by Muslims, The Australian reports.

“I feel there is no justice here. Not 60 years and someone else three years, and they did the same crime. Why?” Sheik Omran told worshippers at his Brunswick mosque. “They make a big fuss about these kids because one of them, his name is Mohamed. Even if you kill someone you don’t go for 60 years.”

It is believed he was referring to notorious Sydney gang rapist Bilal Skaf, a Muslim sentenced to 55 years jail for a series of rapes in 2000.

“This is where everything has gone unbalanced,” Sheik Omran said. “We don’t support criminals or crimes, but at the same time we want justice for everyone.”

Sheik Omran also reportedly strongly defended Sheik Hilaly.

Sheikh Omran has been featured several times at LGF; he’s linked to Al Qaeda, has called Osama bin Laden “a good man,” and blames the United States government for the September 11 atrocities.