NYC to put brakes on Islam subway ads? "The idea is to evoke certain thoughts in the mind-set of the person who is looking at the ads," says a New York Muslim cleric who is backing a project to place ads promoting Islam in 1,000 MTA subway cars. They’re sure to provoke “certain thoughts” aplenty, especially with the NYC placements slated for September, during both the Islamic holy celebration of Ramadan and the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The ads feature phrases like “Prophet Muhammad?” and “Head Scarf?” on one side and the words “You deserve to know” and the Web address WhyIslam.org on the other. Rep. Peter King strongly opposes the campaign based on “those behind it,” including a Brooklyn imam who appeared as a character witness for convicted 1993 World Trade bombing mastermind Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman. The controversy’s intense. That’s a good thing, because in a free society, legitimate ideas merit debate, even in commercial messages. But the timing and venue here seem imprudent and provocative, with cramped and steamy late-summer subway cars providing prime breeding grounds for angry and profane ad defilers and those who would stir up hatred in worse ways. Buyer beware: you get what you pay for. —Posted by David Gianatasio

July 23, 2008 in Gianatasio | Permalink

Comments

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Hey David,

I'm involved in the project (catch me on CNN 10 PM EST this Sunday night, along with Peter King)

I have to tell you, our 877-Why-Islam project has been running for the past 8 years (started before 911) and we do advertising on Highway Billboards, Buses, And on the Radio. This is the first time we chose to do ads in the Subway in NY. This year Ramadan (which is on the lunar calendar) happens to fall on September (it actually starts Sept 2). Muslims look to do extra good deeds in the blessed month (Muslim Donors also wait till Ramadan to donate).

We find Peter King's comments to be offensive. Ironically one of our founders of the 877-Why-Islam project was a victim of the 911 attacks as well. He spent his free time building bridges between people of different faiths. Mr. Kings comments are insulting to him, his family and the intelligence of all New Yorkers.

This is an information campaign. Fox News says its a campaign to convert. You decide, you can see the ads in high resolution on http://www.youdeservetoknow.org

Posted by: Azeem | Jul 25, 2008 9:48:24 PM

Azeem, why do you always find any opposition "offensive"?? I find it offensive that you would run these ads in September. Did you stop to think how the family members of the dead from Sept. 11/01 will feel? OF course you didn't. And you know what? IF any NY's want to "know" about Islam they are able to find out on their own without an ad.

HAve you no sensitivity at all? Doesn't your religion teach that?

Posted by: gymgal | Jul 27, 2008 3:13:04 PM

"Based on those behind it"? That is to say, "no freedom of speech for the politically unpopular." Of course King doesn't see it as a free speech issue; he wouldn't know a right if one jumped up and bit him in the tuches.

Posted by: JD | Jul 30, 2008 1:34:13 PM

this message is for gymgal, what you need to understand is that ISLAM as a religion as a whole was not behind the attacks of 9/11, there was no religious decree issued nor were there any Muslim governments involved. Just because some miscreants chose this cowardly way of attacking innocent people, you cannot hold the entire people or the religion itself accountable. you don't see Muslims hating Christianity after the Danish cartoons incident, they had a problem with the government to get involve and condemn it. You should have an open mind and think before you react.

Posted by: eddie | Sep 13, 2008 6:49:33 AM

Nuns were killed by some Muslims in response to the Danish cartoon incident. They were Christian nuns.

Posted by: ntvnykr | Sep 13, 2008 11:05:12 AM

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