Libya’s highest religious body has issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslims from buying, selling, or wearing Nike products, arguing that the brand’s name and logo promote symbols associated with polytheism.
The ruling, approved by Grand Mufti Sadiq al-Gharyani, was issued by Dar al-Ifta, the influential religious authority based in Tripoli.
The fatwa states that the American sportswear company took its name from Nike, the ancient Greek goddess of victory, when it was founded in 1964. It further claims that Nike’s famous swoosh logo was modeled after the wings of the goddess.
According to the religious committee, wearing clothing or equipment displaying the brand and logo amounts to promoting imagery linked to the worship of more than one god. The ruling also accuses Nike of supporting Israel and reiterates an earlier call, first made by the institution’s Council for Research and Sharia Studies in November 2023 amid the Gaza war, for a boycott of Western companies considered supportive of Israel.
A fatwa is a non-binding religious opinion on Islamic law rather than a state law or enforceable ban. While Dar al-Ifta’s decisions carry significant social and religious weight in parts of Libya, they do not carry legal penalties. Nike does not operate official stores in the country, though its products — along with widespread counterfeits — remain available through local retailers and markets.
The fatwa comes amid ongoing debates over religious conservatism in Libya more than a decade after the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. The country remains politically divided between rival authorities in the east and west. Dar al-Ifta has previously issued similar rulings, including one last year against jewelry and watches bearing the four-leaf clover logo of the French luxury brand Van Cleef & Arpels, which it linked to Christian beliefs and superstition.
The ancient Greek city of Cyrene in northeastern Libya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains archaeological remains that prominently feature images of the goddess Nike, providing historical context for the religious authority’s objections.
Nike has not publicly responded to the latest ruling as of Wednesday.