New York commuters make their way through a tunnel at a subway station in New York.
© AFP/File Emmanuel Dunand NEW YORK (AFP) - The campaign coincides with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, as well as the seventh anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
"You deserve to know," the ads posted in subway cars will read, offering the tagline and contact information for the Islamic Circle of North America as a response to "questions" about the Prophet Mohammed and Islam.
The group is paying the Metropolitan Transit Authority 48,000 dollars to run the ads.
The Islamic Circle of North America describes itself as "a leader in pioneering up to date strategies to better convey the true understanding of Islam to others and clarify many of the misconceptions of Islam," its website says.
"This project is executed with cooperation of several major Islamic organizations and communities," it says.
Republican lawmaker Peter King has urged the MTA to cancel the campaign.
"I strongly believe the MTA should pull the ads," King said.
"They are especially shameful because the ads will be running during the seventh anniversary of September 11, and because the subways are considered a primary target of terrorists."
©AFP