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.”