Philadelphia

Controversial Anti-Islamic Ads Removed From SEPTA Buses

Provocative ads from a group whose Texas contest for Prophet Muhammad cartoons drew gunfire are being removed from Philadelphia transit buses after a monthlong contract expired.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority started taking the pro-Israel American Freedom Defense Initiative's ads down on Friday and expected to have them all removed by Monday.

The ads showing a 1941 photograph of Adolf Hitler with former Arab leader Hajj Amin al-Husseini appeared on 84 buses starting last month after a federal judge ordered SEPTA to accept them.

They had the tagline: "Jew Hatred: It's in the Quran.''

A rabbi and other Jewish activists pasted stickers on the sides of buses bearing the ads.

Two gunmen were killed after firing on officers outside the cartoon event Sunday in Garland, Texas. A guard was wounded.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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