The Nigerian Government, through their National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), has responded to people asking for a ban on a movie featuring actress Nancy Isime.
Recently, a picture of Nancy Isime from an upcoming movie went viral on the internet. In this picture, she is wearing a niqab during a robbery scene.
A niqab is a kind of clothing that many Muslim women wear. It covers most of their body and face, leaving only the eyes visible.
The picture upset a lot of people online, especially many Muslims. An organization called the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) even called the movie “satanic” and asked NFVCB to ban it.
On Friday, the NFVCB said the movie is still being made and hasn’t been sent to them for review yet.
The NFVCB explained, “We are the official agency in charge of checking and approving films and videos in Nigeria. We heard about this new movie that shows the Hijab, which is a special dress for Muslim women symbolizing modesty and religious faith, in a bad light.
“After checking, we found out that the movie is not released yet and we haven’t received it for our review as the law demands.
“We have spoken to the people making the movie and are working with them to sort out these issues.
“As the agency that classifies movies, we won’t ignore any film, video, or skit that disrespects or harms religious, cultural, or ethnic values.
“We promise to help make Nigerian society better by reviewing movies and videos in a way that respects free speech within the law, but also stops harm to culture, society, and religion,” the agency concluded.