Entertainment
MURIC Calls for Ban of Movie Featuring Nancy Isime in Niqab
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has demanded a ban on an upcoming movie featuring popular actress Nancy Isime, in which actresses, including Isime, are seen wearing a purdah or niqab, and brandishing weapons. The group has condemned the movie as “satanic,” arguing that it depicts Muslim women as criminals and incites public prejudice against them.
In a statement released by MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Thursday, the organization expressed serious concerns about the film’s portrayal of Muslim women. The statement emphasized that the movie, recently unveiled by Nancy Isime, portrays women in purdah involved in criminal activities such as bank robberies. MURIC described the movie as an extreme form of Islamophobia, calling it provocative and insulting.
The 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. 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.”
Professor Akintola further argued that the film could incite violence in Nigeria if immediate actions are not taken. He called on the National Film and Video Censors Board to investigate and ban the movie before its release.
“To Nigerian Muslims who have inundated our communication channels with 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 colors of Shaytan. Be good ambassadors of Islam. Don’t take the law into your hands. Allow the authorities to take necessary action,” Akintola urged.
MURIC also plans to file a complaint with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, requesting action against the account responsible for sharing what they have labeled as “Islamophobic content.”
Reacting to the film, Latifat Adewunmi Jumah, who manages a Facebook page called Laj Fingers, expressed her dissatisfaction with the portrayal. She stated, “The niqab/hijab is not an armed robbery attire! The niqab/hijab is not an attire for concealing identity.”
She questioned Nancy Isime’s choice, suggesting, “If you needed to conceal your identity for a perfect robbery role, you could have used a nose mask or worn a mask. Why wear Islamic attire?”
Jumah added, “I find this offensive. Something needs to be done to stop these people. Niqab/Hijab is not a costume, neither is it a joke.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs, the imprisoned rapper and music mogul, is expected to face more than 10 additional civil lawsuits in the coming days, according to attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents multiple accusers.
Buzbee made the announcement while filing a fresh lawsuit in New York on behalf of an unnamed 23-year-old male accuser. The plaintiff alleges he was drugged and sexually assaulted by Combs in 2015 after performing at a nightclub event the rapper attended. According to the lawsuit, the young performer was hoping to secure a deal with Combs’ record label, Bad Boy Records, when he was invited to an afterparty. He claims he was given a drink that left him disoriented and later woke up to being assaulted.
Combs, who is already facing more than 30 civil lawsuits over similar allegations, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He is also awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty. His legal team has not yet responded to the latest allegations.
Buzbee, a high-profile Texas attorney, has been instrumental in multiple cases against Combs over the past year. He stated that he intends to file more than 10 additional lawsuits before the March 1 deadline for New York’s special law, which temporarily allows victims of past sexual abuse to file civil claims regardless of expired statutes of limitations.
Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, best known for her role in the iconic 2001 drama Meteor Garden, has passed away at the age of 48 due to pneumonia, local media report.
Hsu, one of the most recognized stars in the Mandarin-speaking entertainment industry, gained widespread fame across Asia, with Meteor Garden captivating audiences in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand, where it was dubbed into local languages.
The news of her passing has left fans devastated, with millions expressing their shock online. “I can’t believe it,” wrote one Weibo user, echoing the sentiments of many.
Hsu reportedly fell ill while visiting Japan, where she was vacationing with her family during Lunar New Year. Her sister, Dee Hsu, confirmed the news to Taiwan’s TVBS News on Monday.
“During the Lunar New Year, our family came to Japan for vacation. My dearest sister Barbie has unfortunately left us after getting pneumonia, triggered by influenza,” Dee Hsu shared in a statement through her manager.
Barbie Hsu had a history of epilepsy and heart disease, and she had been hospitalized previously due to seizures.
She leaves behind her husband, South Korean singer DJ Koo, as well as two children from her previous marriage to Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei, whom she divorced in 2021 after ten years of marriage.
Hsu’s passing marks a heartbreaking loss for the Asian entertainment industry, with fans and colleagues mourning the end of an era for a star who helped define a generation of television romance.
Beyoncé has finally secured the coveted Album of the Year award at the 67th Grammy Awards, correcting what many saw as a long-standing injustice. The singer was honored for Cowboy Carter, her groundbreaking album that explores the Black roots of country music.
Having been passed over for the Grammys’ top prize four times before, Beyoncé’s moment of triumph was met with a standing ovation. She embraced her daughter Blue Ivy and husband Jay-Z before taking the stage in a gold paisley dress.
“I just feel very full and very honored,” she said. “It’s been many, many years.”
She dedicated the win to Linda Martell, a trailblazing Black country artist and the first Black woman to perform solo at the Grand Ole Opry. Martell’s influence is deeply woven into Cowboy Carter, with her voice appearing throughout the album.
Beyoncé’s victory comes 25 years after her first Grammy nomination with Destiny’s Child. Despite becoming the most-awarded artist in Grammys history—with a record 35 wins—she had never won Album of the Year until now.
The Texas-born artist’s genre shift proved historic. Cowboy Carter, the second in a trilogy exploring America’s musical heritage, has been praised for reshaping the narrative around country and Americana.
Beyoncé also becomes the first Black woman to win Album of the Year since Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1999, marking a milestone moment in Grammy history.
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