Anti-Islamic ad claiming "it's not Islamophobia, it's Islamorealism" goes up in NY train stations

The American Freedom Defense Initiative paid for these ads to appear in several Metro-North Railroad stations in New York because they feel it is not "Islamophobic' to oppose jihad terror." / 1010 WINS

(CBS/AP) LARCHMONT, N.Y. - An anti-Islamic advertisement has gone up at several Metro-North Railroad stations in Westchester County.

It reads: "It's not Islamophobia, it's Islamorealism."

The signs were paid for by the American Freedom Defense Initiative, an organization ran by blogger and political activist Pamela Geller. It associates Islam with 19,250 terrorist attacks carried out by extremists since the 9/11. She told CBS radio station 1010 WINS in New York that the sign is intended to tell people that it is not "Islamophobic' to oppose jihad terror."

"The ad is just stating a fact. There have been well over 19,000 jihadi attacks since 9/11," Geller said. "People need to know this. Obviously, everybody is surprised by this number and I think that's part of the reason why we need to run these ads. People need to know this is going on across the world."

The Metropolitan Transpiration Authority in New York (MTA) said it doesn't support the sentiment displayed in the ad but doesn't bar advertising based on content, according to CBS station WCBS in New York.

WCBS also reported that the American Freedom Defense Initiative previously attempted to place another ad with the MTA that had a picture of a mosque next to a plane flying toward the World Trade towers with the words "Why There?" In a decision earlier this summer, the federal court declared that the MTA would be violating the American Freedom Defense Initiative's First Amendment rights if they blocked that ad, according to CBS radio station WCBS 880 in New York.

Last month, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel ads appeared at Metro-North stations.

MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph Lhota said the agency may discuss its policies on political ads in September.

The Anti-Defamation League said to condemn the entire faith is unwarranted. Greenburg Town Supervisor Paul Feiner said to WINS that if the MTA feels strongly about opposing the message posted on the sign, the agency should pay for ads to display their sentiment.

But, some commuters don't see what the controversy is about. One rider told 1010 WINS that even though some people might be offended, people are too easily offended by many aspects of things.

[mohammedkhamis]

Maybe these facts should go up on a Billboard All the following figures are documented 2799 kiled on 9/11.Among the dead were dozens of Muslims. Since 9/11 American troops have murdered 118,264 civilians in Iraq and have murdered 17,855 civilians in Afghanistan. Total civilians murdered by American troops 136,119. Total women raped by American Troops:465 with the youngest being 9 years old. No wonder America is hated above all other countries by Muslims.

[Hans_Amin]

What's the issue here? The advertising campaign is just reflecting the facts and nothing else! I myself am an ex-moslem and know inside out how much of a threat islamist ideology is to the very existence of civilized world.This campaign isn't in anyway targeting the Moslems. It's the dangers posed by Islam as an ideology that were are being warned of!

[IAMCS]

We should only be tolerant of a religion until it becomes intolerant of others. We all have a right to live in peace here on Earth. That comes before any right to religious belief.

[Liberty10]

Hadeeth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW):

"Whoever kills a person who has a truce with the Muslims will never smell the fragrance of Paradise." (Narrated from Saheeh Muslim)

[Liberty10]

Don't mention only the verses of fighting from Quran. We all know that all exists in many books of religions which is a fact. There are much more verses of bringing peace than fighting. Since someone has already mentioned the 5 verses related to fighting from 6236 verses of Quran, here are some for peace:

2:256, 16:82, 6:107, 4:79, 4:80, 11:28, 17:53, 17:54, 21:107, 21:108, 20:109, 22:67, 36:16, 36:17, 39:41, 42:6, 42:8, 48:28, 60:8, 60:9 64:12, 67:25, 67:26, 88:21, 88:22.

[Stublore]

How does one determine precedence when dealing with koranic verses?
The answer is simple:
Later verses supercede earlier verses.
So all the early verses(from when mo was weak), are voided by later verses when he was strong and revealed his true colors :).

[ROB-RICO]

It is stated in the Qur'an that Muhammad considered himself a master liar and deceiver, but Allah himself claimed to be the greatest of all liars.

You can count on one absolute in Islam. Everything that comes out of a Muslim's mouth or pen is a lie.

[Trek10820]

First let's allow anti-Muslim rhetoric under the banner of free speech. Next lets permit anti-Semitic and anti-Hispanic rhetoric. Then we can allow anti-black and anti-Catholic rhetoric. It's all free speech. Our society will be judged by how we treat others who are different from ourselves.

[Liberty10]

You are a human with broad understanding! Keep it up!

[LazloFreyjadour]

Around 70 million peoples died in WWII,
more than 50.000 peoples died in the various inquistions across Europe.
thousands died and other millions Palestinian expelled in Jewish occupation of their homeland,
than could we call it "Christiorealism" or "Judeorealism" based on these datas? I respect Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and any other religions. We cannot blame their tenet and concept.

[Liberty10]

This is the comment that should be called an independent judgment comment! People like you and Trek10820 and many other good hearts still exist! Joy!

[Stublore]

Idiotic comment!
WW2 was not fought with soldiers enlisting to spread catlick doctrine.

Furthermore, if a group espouses a particular view, and puts into practices the tenets of that group, of course you can blame the tenets and concepts for their actions.
D'uh!

[JIMDOJA]

YES, YES, YES! DON'T TREAD ON US! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! The new "tolerate" Egyption government, Muslum Brotherhood, are crucifying people for disagreeing with the new government! WAKE UP WESTERN CIVILIZED WORLD! There is NOTHING peacful or tolerate about Islam...NOTHING! SURAH 9:5, SURAH 5:33, SURAH 5:51, SURAH 9:30, Sura 9:29

[Liberty10]

How about the other side of the coin that you are ignoring? Peace?
Quran Surahs: 2:256, 16:82, 6:107, 4:79, 4:80, 11:28, 17:53, 17:54, 21:107, 21:108, 20:109, 22:67, 36:16, 36:17, 39:41, 42:6, 42:8, 48:28, 60:8, 60:9 64:12, 67:25, 67:26, 88:21, 88:22

[aymancis]

what i find it strange , is the majority of these attacks came from either iraq or afganistan , both conflicts were created by the invasion of US army and then they blame the attacks on islamist. I wonder the criteria they use to say it is an islamist ?. The lessson to learn is that every country USA invade these attacks increases , do you see the link ?

[Liberty10]

Replying to michaelt302

How about Hiroshima and Vietnam? The first attack from Vietnam was faked by the US government and you cant deny it because the US government has accepted it :-)

Loose Change 9/11 < Wonderful documentary!

[bjeanthejellybean]

@Liberty10 As far as Hiroshima there was a little thing called Pearl Harbour and the attack on it that brought us into the war..... And the fight in Vietnam well that was started long before the US got involved. Ever hear of the French Indochina War??? (And I'd like to see a link to the US Government admitting that they "faked" the first attack... whatever that means.

And if you believe something as ludicrous as Loose Change... then you have a few screws loose.

[aldunya]

Lets see now we speak of violence overseas but every year we kill each other to the tune of 10,000 people a year. Many of the victims are Muslim cab drivers and store owners. Masses of non Muslim youth are spending 4 years in the State Pen while Muslim youth here in this great nation are spending 4 years in Penn State. The murders will continue because there is nothing in the environment to check crime. An environment must have strong morals to oppose crime which is derived from strong moral teachings. Strong moral teachings stem from a strong moral doctrine and with all of this lacking what else can one expect to see but a rise in violent crimes.