The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called for a ban on a new movie that has not yet been released.
The movie shows popular actress Nancy Isime and others wearing the niqab (an Islamic full covering) and holding dangerous weapons.
MURIC says the movie is “satanic” and wrongly shows Muslim women as criminals, which could incite hatred against them.
Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Executive Director of MURIC, released a statement on Thursday, saying, “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 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,” he added.
Akintola warned that the film could cause serious trouble in Nigeria if not stopped, urging the National Film and Video Censors Board to ban the movie immediately.
To the Nigerian Muslims who are upset, he said, “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.”
Nancy Isime’s movie poster showing women in hijab and niqab with guns in a bank robbery scene has already upset the Muslim community.
They plan to complain to Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, to take action against the account sharing what they call “Islamophobic content.”
See post below for further details:
https://twitter.com/AM_Saleeeem/status/1816446951006535869?t=hMcP1-5PW-tuYukfkPIgnw&s=19
