A CONTROVERSIAL Islamic preacher is pushing for religious alternatives to western cartoons broadcast in Australia.

Sheik Shady Alsuleiman, the head of the Australian National Imams Council, has urged parents to embrace religious cartoons over the popular animated children’s series Peppa Pig.

The council has thrown its support behind One4Kids, a company that produces children’s shows with Islamic themes.

A campaign has been set up to fund Barakah Hills — a story about the Abdullah family, who live in a small town with a predominantly Muslim population.

“As we know Muslims are averaging much higher birthrates, plus increased amount of time children are watching various videos on devices, computers, and television,” the fundraising page reads.

“With your support, One4Kids hopes to complete production on this new ongoing series inshallah.”

One4Kids, which has more than 417,000 followers on Facebook, produces various Islamic cartoons, using Muslim characters and focusing on stories of the prophet and learning Arabic.

In November, a trailer for Barakah Hills was launched on the page.

“Introducing Barakah Hills one of our many Peppa Pig alternatives,” the post reads.

“Barakah Hills represents an ideal Muslim community and is targeted to a post-toddler, preschool demographic of children.

“The show’s main objective is to show children what it is like to be a practising Muslim as well as a good citizen in their community.

“Children will learn everything from how to have good manners, to how to get actively involved with community projects.”

Subhi Alshaik, a director and producer with the network, told The Australian the Islamic shows provided an alternative to some of the “rubbish” on television — shows he said “just don’t really teach children the best things that they need to learn”.

Sheik Alsuleiman, a Sydney preacher who has previously generated controversy for his homophobic views, urged parents to donate money to the production of the cartoons.

“These days, in this modern age, our children have been embedded and very well-occupied watching different cartoons on TV and it’s our responsibility not to stop them from watching but give them another alternative,” he said, in a video posted to the One4Kids Facebook page.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was criticised for hosting the cleric at an Iftar dinner in Kirribilli House.

It was revealed the Sheik had condemned homosexuals in an online video from 2013, saying diseases like HIV/AIDS were the consequence of their “evil actions”.

The Australian-born preacher also called for adulterers to be stoned to death, saying women would be “hung by their breasts in hell”.