* Says newspaper owes Maryam Yusuf apology, may face legal action
The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has called on the management of Vanguard Newspaper to explain the circumstances surrounding the publication of an allegedly altered photograph of Maryam Yusuf, the 14 year old Nigerian student who recently helped Team Nigeria secure a historic victory at the 2026 Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China.
In a statement signed by its Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, on Tuesday, the organisation described the allegation as a serious matter that raises concerns about journalistic ethics, professional integrity and respect for religious identity.
MPAC said the original photograph released by the organisers of the championship showed Maryam wearing her niqab in accordance with her religious beliefs. However, it noted that the version published by Vanguard appeared to have removed her face veil.
Although the newspaper had yet to issue an official explanation, the organisation said the seriousness of the allegation required urgent clarification.
A check by Muslim News on Wednesday, July 22, at 10:06 a.m. showed that the allegedly altered featured image was still being used in the online report published by Vanguard at the time this report was filed.
MPAC said the controversy could not be separated from the online abuse Maryam suffered before the competition, when social media users mocked her for wearing the niqab instead of celebrating her academic excellence.
The organisation said the teenager had since returned home as one of Nigeria’s World Spelling Bee gold medallists after helping the country make history in its maiden appearance at the global championship.
According to MPAC, Maryam’s success has exposed what it described as a disturbing tendency to focus more on the religious identity of Muslim women than on their achievements.
It also alleged a double standard in media coverage, arguing that photographs of Muslim women wearing the hijab or niqab are often published without alteration when they are linked to allegations of wrongdoing, but their religious identity appears to be diminished or erased when they are celebrated for positive achievements.
“This selective treatment is unfair, discriminatory and deeply troubling,” Kamor said.
The organisation maintained that the hijab and niqab do not diminish intelligence or prevent excellence, noting that Muslim women continue to excel in education, medicine, law, science, technology, business and public service while remaining faithful to their religious obligations.
It said Maryam’s achievement demonstrated that faith and academic excellence can coexist and that her niqab did not stop her from competing successfully with some of the brightest young minds in the world.
MPAC recalled that during the 7th anniversary lecture of Muslim News Nigeria, it warned against persistent media narratives that portray visibly identifiable Muslims through suspicion while overlooking or diminishing their positive contributions to society.
The organisation argued that media bias is not limited to false reporting but can also be reflected in editorial decisions about whose stories receive prominence, whose achievements are celebrated and whose identities are overlooked.
It added that the increasing use of artificial intelligence and digital editing tools in newsrooms makes it even more important for media organisations to preserve the authenticity of visual content.
MPAC called on Vanguard to immediately clarify the circumstances surrounding the published photograph.
“Should it be established that the image was altered without authorisation, the newspaper should issue a public apology, publish the authentic photograph and review its editorial processes to prevent similar occurrences in the future,” Kamor said.
The organisation further maintained that Vanguard owed Maryam Yusuf an unreserved apology if her photograph had indeed been manipulated without the consent of her or her parents.
“This was not a neutral editorial decision. It was an act that stripped a Nigerian child of her identity and dignity for public consumption, and it cannot be excused as routine photo editing,” the statement said.
MPAC warned that if satisfactory remedial steps were not taken, it would pursue all lawful options, including submitting a formal petition to the Nigeria Press Council for investigation and possible disciplinary action.
The organisation also urged Nigerian media organisations to reflect on the cumulative impact of their editorial decisions regarding the representation of Muslims, stressing that the dignity, identity and religious freedom of every Nigerian deserve equal protection.
It congratulated Maryam Yusuf, Oluwadamilola Adeolu, Abdurrahman Yusuf and Chinedu Okediachi for making Nigeria proud at the World Spelling Bee, saying their achievement should unite the nation and serve as a reminder that “excellence knows no religion, ethnicity or mode of dressing.”
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