NFVCB Responds To MURIC's Call To Ban Unreleased Movie

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has responded to calls to ban a yet-to-be-released film in which females rob a bank while wearing niqabs.

Muslims have expressed upset after the movie poster was published online.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) urged the NFVCB to ban the contentious picture, which it termed as "satanic".

In response to the calls, the NFVCB stated that the film is still in production and has not been classified.

The board stated that the filmmakers are "working to address the issues raised by the public and will not tolerate creative works that "abuse, denigrate, or undermine religious, cultural, and ethnic sensibilities."

The statement released by the board reads: "The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), the statutory regulatory agency for film and video works as well as exhibition and distribution in Nigeria, has received complaints about an upcoming Nigerian movie that associated the Hijab, an outfit attributed to Muslim women that symbolizes respect, modesty, and religious devotion, with negative moral vices.

"Our check revealed that the movie has not been released, and it has not been submitted to the NFVCB for classification as required by law and our mandate.

"However, we have been able to reach the producers of the film and have taken steps to address the concerns raised with the producers.

"We restate that as a classification agency, the NFVCB will not overlook any film or video works, including dramatized short contents (skits) that abuse, denigrate, or undermine religious, cultural, and ethnic sensibilities.

“We commit to contributing to the positive transformation of the Nigerian society through classification of films and video works whilst balancing the need to preserve freedom of expression within the law, and limit social, cultural, and religious harm caused by films.”