MAIL ONLINE: An Australian lawyer has inflamed the row over a U.S. pastor's plan to burn the Koran by allegedly smoking holy books and posting the videos on YouTube.
Brisbane-based lawyer Alex Stewart, a self-professed atheist, is seen smoking what appear to be marijuana joints made up of pages from the Koran and the Bible.
A US pastor's plan to burn the Koran caused outrage among Muslims around the world and led to deadly riots in Afghanistan before he backed down.
But the controversy has flared up again with Stewart, who works for the Queensland University of Technology, lighting up his religious 'joints' under the YouTube title: Bible or Koran - Which Burns Best?
He gave the Bible a seven out of 10 for its burning qualities, and said it was better than the Koran which left him feeling sick.
Stewart says burning religious books is no big deal and that people need to 'get over it'.
But since his video attracted approbation from around the world, Stewart - who appeared in the video wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words 'I'm an atheist, Thank God' - has gone into hiding.
The president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Ikebal Patel, said: 'I think it's highly offensive that he has done this to two of the holiest books in the world. Read on and comment >>> Richard Shears | Monday, September 13, 2010
