The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged Nigeria’s National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to immediately ban a new movie that it claims portrays Muslim women in a negative light.
The film, recently unveiled by actress Nancy Isime, depicts women in purdah committing crimes such as bank robbery while armed with dangerous weapons.
In a statement released on July 25, 2024, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of MURIC, described the film as “Islamophobia taken to the highest level” and “satanic, repugnant and provocative.”
Akintola accused the film of aiming to “portray Muslim women as criminals with a violent proclivity” and warned that it could incite public hostility towards them.
He stated, “This hate film is capable of setting Nigeria on fire if urgent action is not taken by the relevant authorities.”
MURIC’s call for a ban is also framed as part of a broader resistance to what they see as ongoing attacks on Muslim practices and symbols.
He said, “”An extremely anti-Muslim film has been released into the Nigerian movie industry. The upcoming film which was recently unveiled by Nancy Isime shows women in purdah brandishing dangerous weapons and robbing banks.
“It is aimed at portraying Muslim women as criminals with a violent proclivity. The film is capable of inciting the public against Muslim women. It may also expose Muslims in general to public ridicule and opprobrium.
“We believe that the film is the handiwork of Muslim-haters and part of the plot to stop Muslim women from wearing hijab and niqab. The plot was hatched a long time ago and its execution began in the schools.
“This plot was boldly and diligently confronted in Nigerian courts by Muslims until the highest court in the land made a pronouncement on it. This Satanic film is the latest effort in the war against hijab.”
“Our religion brought a message of hope and peace to the world. We will not allow anyone to paint our women, our mothers, our wives, our daughters and sisters in the colours of Shaytan. Be good ambassadors of Islam. Don’t take the law into your hands. Allow the authorities to take necessary action,” he added.
Akintola assured Nigerian Muslims that their concerns were being addressed and urged them to remain calm and not resort to violence.