The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged the federal government to ban a controversial film featuring actress Nancy Isime.
Isime shared a poster for an upcoming movie titled “Blood Brothers,” in which she wears a niqab and holds a gun. A niqab is a long garment worn by Muslim women to cover their bodies and faces, leaving only their eyes visible.
The poster sparked widespread condemnation online, with many Muslims expressing outrage over the portrayal of a woman in a niqab participating in a robbery scene.
In response to the controversy, Ishaq Akintola, the director of MURIC, issued a statement on Thursday condemning the film as “satanic.” He called on the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to ban the movie, arguing that it is anti-Muslim.
According to him: “An extremely anti-Muslim movie has been released into the Nigerian movie industry. The upcoming film, recently unveiled by Nancy Isime, shows women in purdah brandishing dangerous weapons and robbing banks. It is Islamophobia taken to the highest level. The movie is satanic, repugnant and provocative.
“It is aimed at portraying Muslim women as criminals with a violent proclivity. And capable of inciting the public against Muslim women.
“We believe that it is the handwork of Muslim haters and part of the plot to stop our 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 the hijab.
“This hate film is capable of setting Nigeria on fire if urgent action is not taken by relevant authorities. We therefore call on the NFVCB to investigate and place an immediate ban on the coming film.
“To Nigerian Muslims who have inundated our communication channels with voice notes, video clips and other types of messages, please be calm and peaceful. You have spoken loud and clear. Allow the authorities to take necessary action.”
