The Muslim Judicial Council has called on Pastor Terry Jones of Florida in the US to acquaint himself with the Koran before setting it alight.

Jones's plans to burn the holy book at his church on September 11 has ignited anger and controversy the world over.

The council yesterday called his campaign "futile, disgraceful and disrespectful".

"God Almighty says that He is the protector of the Koran,'' the council said. Islam's holy book had "never been subjected to any intervention or modification as it is perfect and not subject to human error".

Jones had betrayed the teachings of the Bible and Jesus.

"As Muslims we have become all too accustomed with those who, under the guise of representing Jesus Christ . betray his message."

The council called on Jones to enrich himself with the teachings of the Koran.

Reuters reports Jones shocked actress Angelina Jolie, who is in Pakistan to highlight the plight of flood victims. She had "hardly the words" to express her opposition.

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg defended Jones's right to burn the Koran because of US constitutional protection for free speech. The Wall Street Journal quoted him as saying: "In a strange way, I'm here to defend his right to do that.

"I happen to think that it is distasteful. I don't think he would like it if somebody burnt a book that in his religion he thinks is holy . but the first amendment protects everybody, and you can't say that we're going to apply the first amendment to only those cases where we are in agreement."