Anti-Muslim ads to roll Wednesday

The first SEPTA bus advertisements proclaiming a controversial anti-Muslim message are expected to appear on Philadelphia streets Wednesday.

SEPTA was ordered by a federal judge March 11 to accept the ads, which say "Islamic Jew Hatred: It's in the Quran" and feature a photograph of a 1941 meeting between Hitler and Hajj Amin al-Husseini, a Palestinian Arab nationalist who made radio broadcasts supporting the Nazis.

Eighty-four SEPTA buses are expected to bear the ads by Saturday, SEPTA spokeswoman Jerri Williams said. The ads, produced by the American Freedom Defense Initiative, a New Hampshire-based nonprofit organization, will be displayed for a month, under terms of a $30,000 contract.

- Paul Nussbaum