Muslim leaders hope to avoid violence in Melbourne following riots in Sydney, despite admitting a text message has circulated planning a protest on Sunday.

Religious leaders of the Islamic and Coptic communities held a press conference today denouncing the weekend violence in Sydney and a film, which denigrates the Prophet Mohammed, that caused it.

Victorian Board of Imams spokesman Sheik Mohamadu Saleem said he had seen a text message organising a protest at the State Library on Sunday, but had not been able to find who sent it. He said it was difficult to verify its authenticity.

"It may be just a mischief, we don't know anyone who is planning it, but we know they are going around," Sheikh Saleem said.