A controversial advertisement that critics say is hateful toward Muslims will appear in New York City subway stations starting next week , despite the city 's attempts to halt the campaign . New York 's Metropolitan Transportation Authority initially rejected the ad , which reads : `` In any war between the civilized man and the savage , support the civilized man . Support Israel . Defeat Jihad . '' The authority 's decision was overturned last month when a federal judge ruled that the ad is protected speech under the First Amendment . Jihad -- Arabic for `` struggle '' -- is considered a religious duty for Muslims , although there are peaceful and violent interpretations of what it means . The American Freedom Defense Initiative , which produced the ad , has been fighting to place the message in New York 's subway system since last year after the authority refused to display it . `` We do n't think it 's controversial , '' said Pamela Geller , the executive director of the American Freedom Defense Initiative . `` It 's truth . The MTA has run anti-Israel ads before and no one had an issue about it . 'Any war on innocent civilians is savagery ' : What 's controversial here ? '' Starting next week , the ads will be displayed in 10 of the city 's more than 400 subway stations . The exact locations have not been selected by the transportation authority . Geller said she had no qualms about releasing the message amid ongoing protests against an American-made anti-Islam film clip that led to the death of the U.S. ambassador to Libya last week . `` If it 's not a film , it 's a cartoon , it 's always some event , '' Geller said . `` I will not sacrifice my freedom . '' She noted that other places such as San Francisco have had these ads appear on buses with disclaimers next to them . It 's the latest controversy fueling the debate over free speech versus hate speech . In addition to protests over the film clip , a French satirical magazine published cartoons on Wednesday featuring a figure resembling Islam 's Prophet Mohammed , triggering security concerns . `` These hate ads are part of a larger problem , '' said Muneer Awad , executive director of the Council of American-Islamic Relations . `` We 're trying to make sure MTA has policies to discourage hate speech . '' Awad wants to ensure that anyone seeing the ads next week are aware that the message is not sanctioned by the city of New York . `` It is a hate group paying for these advertisements ; an avenue to promote hate speech , '' said Awad . `` Millions of people will see this , we want to make sure they realize that it is not ( promoted by ) the city of New York . '' While his council can not stop the ads , Awad hopes transit officials will put a disclaimer on the advertisements and redirect any funding of the ad to the Human Rights Commission . The MTA is considering amending its advertising policies as soon as next week to prohibit all noncommercial advertisements , spokesman Aaron Donovan said . It is unclear what effect that might have on the American Freedom Defense Initiative 's advertisement .
Controversial ` ` ' Jihad '' ad to appear in several New York subway stations next week . Last year , city transit officials refused to remove the ad . That decision was overturned by a federal judge last month . Group behind ad says it 's not concerned about inflaming Muslims .