Queensland University of Technology employee Alex Stewart has taken leave from his non-academic position as a commercial contracts lawyer.
The university is investigating the video in which Stewart appears to smoke marijuana rolled in pages from the religious texts, before rating which "burns better" , the Syndey Morning Herald reported.
In a 12-minute clip entitled "Bible or Koran — which burns best?" Stewart holds up the two religious texts before ripping them apart and lighting the rolled up pages. At one stage he inhales deeply from one of the roll-ups before blowing out the smoke and commenting: "Holy".
The video has drawn widespread criticism from both Islamic associations and Christian groups.
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