Nancy Isime: MURIC demands ban on controversial film after Afri Reporters exposé

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has demanded an immediate ban on a controversial Nollywood movie, whose poster was recently unveiled by popular Nollywood actress Nancy Isime, following a report by Afri Reporters.

The poster depicts women wearing hijabs and face veils wielding dangerous weapons and engaging in robbery, prompting MURIC’s call for action against the film’s perceived promotion of negative stereotypes and disrespect towards Muslim women.

The group, in a statement on Thursday, said it depicts Muslim women as criminals and incites the public against them.

The call was contained in a press statement issued on Thursday, 25th July, 2024 and made available to Afri Reporters by the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The Muslim body said the movie is capable of setting Nigeria on fire if urgent action is not taken by the relevant authorities. It urged the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to investigate and place an immediate ban on the coming film.

The full statement reads:

“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 (https://afrireporters.com/2024/07/23/nancy-isime-faces-hot-backlash-for-offensive-movie-poster-featuring-hijab-niqab-clad-women-with-guns/). It is Islamophobia taken to the highest level. This film is satanic, repugnant and provocative.

“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 dilligently 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.

“This hate film is capable of setting Nigeria on fire if urgent action is not taken by the relevant authorities. We therefore call on the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to investigate and place an immediate ban on the coming film.

“To Nigerian Muslims who have inundated our communication channels with the video clips, voice notes and other types of messages, we have this to say: please remain calm and peaceful. You have spoken loud and clear. We have received your messages and action is being taken right now. 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.”