The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to prohibit a contentious film starring Nancy Isime.
Isime recently tweeted a poster for the upcoming film “Blood Brothers,” in which she is shown clutching a gun and donning a niqab.
Some Muslim women cover their entire body and face, save for their eyes, with a long cloth called a niqāb.
But the tweet set off a social media backlash, with some users taking offence at the actress for wearing Muslim clothing while showing a cinematic scene of a heist.
View this post on Instagram
In a statement on Thursday by Ishaq Akintola, its director, MURIC described the film as “satanic,” arguing that it portrays Muslim women as “criminals with violent proclivities”.
Akintola said if the NFVCB failed to take necessary actions, the development could “set Nigeria on fire”.
“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,” the statement reads.
“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.”
