The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has demanded an immediate ban on an upcoming film featuring popular actress Nancy Isime, which shows actresses in Islamic purdah (niqab) wielding weapons. The group has condemned the film as ‘satanic’ and harmful, alleging that it portrays Muslim women as criminals and incites public hostility against them.

In a statement released on Thursday, Professor Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of MURIC, criticized the film as “extremely anti-Muslim” and accused it of Islamophobia. The film, according to Akintola, depicts women in purdah involved in bank robberies, a portrayal he describes as “satanic, repugnant, and provocative.”

Akintola warned that the film could incite public animosity towards Muslim women and lead to their ridicule and scorn. He asserted that the film is part of a broader plot to undermine the hijab and niqab, which has been met with legal challenges from the Muslim community in Nigerian courts.

He urged the National Film and Video Censors Board to investigate and ban the film, cautioning that failure to act could lead to significant unrest. Akintola also appealed to Nigerian Muslims to remain calm and let the authorities handle the situation, emphasizing the importance of upholding peace and good representation of Islam.

The controversy was further fueled by a reaction from the Muslim community to a movie poster showing women in hijab and face veils holding guns. Critics, including Latifat Adewunmi Jumah and Alfa Shehu, expressed their dissatisfaction on social media, arguing that the use of Islamic attire in this context is offensive and misrepresentative.

Jumah criticized the film’s portrayal, stating that the niqab/hijab is not an attire for concealing identity and should not be used as a costume for criminal roles. She called for action against what she termed “Islamophobic content.”

Shehu also voiced his displeasure, accusing those involved in the film of hypocrisy and opportunism.