Muslim Ads On Broward County Buses Raise Protest

In Broward County, Florida, an advertising agency handles the sale of ad space on county buses. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has bought space on the outside of 50 buses for the message: "ISLAM: The Way of Life of Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad" along with a toll-free number for further information. Today's Miami Herald reports that Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle agrees with a group of protesters who want the ads removed. In the county, where tensions are already high over events in Gaza, Jewish activist Joe Kaufman, chairman of a group called Americans Against Hate, charges that CAIR is connected to Hamas. He also says the ad is misleading because it suggest that Abraham, Jesus and Moses were Muslims. Once the contract for ads with CAIR expires near the end of this month, the Broward County Commission will meet to decide what, if any, religious messages will be permitted on county buses in the future.