Top Cleric Issues Warning to Femi Adebayo For Desecrating Islam In Upcoming Film * MURIC, MSSN, Other Islamic Groups Condemn Projection of Islam As Evil
By Omowumi Omotosho
Prominent muslim cleric, Sheikh Hamad Labeeb has issued a stark warning to Nollywood actor Femi Adebayo over his involvement in a movie where female muslim garment, Niqab was used in a robbery scene.
This is as Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Muslim Initiative on Rights and Justice(MIRAJ) and Muslims Students’ Society of Nigeria ( MSSN) condemned projection of Islam as evil.
The controversial movie was produced by Nancy Isime, an actress, model and media personality.
Sheik Labeeb’s criticism was captured in a viral video, where he expressed his discontent with Adebayo’s role, especially given the actor’s background as a Muslim from Kwara State.
“I have been hearing reports about you, Femi, but I ignored them. You are from Ilorin and I expect you to know better. Why don’t you emulate your father, Bello? I don’t even know the religion you practice.
I was told you were the director of that movie, I will make sure you learn your lessons. You will not try such again,” Sheikh Labeeb Lagbaaji stated.
The movie in question, which has yet to be released, has ignited significant backlash from Muslim communities due to the use of niqab in a robbery scene.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), led by Executive Director Professor Ishaq Akintola, has called for the movie to be banned, labeling it as “satanic.”
According to MURIC, the film unfairly depicts Muslim women as criminals, potentially inciting public hostility against them.
Similarly, the Muslim Initiative on Rights and Justice (MIRAJ), represented by Amir Adeniyi Adams, has petitioned Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of Nancy Isime and other actors involved.
The petition argues that the film’s portrayal of the hijab—a symbol of dignity and morality for Muslim women—as a tool of criminal activity is deeply offensive and could disrupt public peace.
On its part, MSSN urged for calm while calling on the National Film and Video Censors Board( NFVCB) to do the needful.
According to the group, ” Muslim students unequivocally condemn the projection of Islam as evil through a movie in circulation in which armed robbers were portrayed putting on the Muslim dress of hijab and niqab (face veil).
“While we appeal to the already enraged Muslim students to continue to be calm as we await the actions to be taken by relevant authorities against the producers of the movie, we demand a decisive action that is punitive, compensatory, and deterrent enough and in time,” it said.
The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has also weighed in on the matter. In a statement released by Director General Shaibu Husseini, the board confirmed that it has contacted the film’s producers to address the concerns raised, emphasizing that the movie has not yet been released.
