A Queensland lawyer has been criticised over a YouTube video showing him burning pages from the Koran and the Bible, and using the paper to roll what looks to be a marijuana joint, as it does not help foster peace around the world.
Alex Stewart, a lawyer, told the Courier-Mail that he was really smoking lawn clippings, but has stood by his video, saying basic freedom of speech shouldn't be revoked just because someone might be offended.
Ikebal Patel, head of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils has told the Courier-Mail it involves two of the world's holiest books and is highly offensive.
He says it does nothing for world peace and tolerance at a time of heightened tensions around the ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the US and the end of Ramadan.
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Stewart says they're just books, and anyone who gets upset about them being burned is taking life far too seriously.
Anglican Church spokesman Dean Peter Catt said that although on one level the stunt's funny, he understands some people would be scandalised by it.
