Arabic version: السلطة الدينية الليبية تصدر فتوى بشأن نايكي

According to BBC News, Libya’s highest religious authority, the Tripoli-based Dar al-Ifta, has issued a ruling banning Muslims from buying, selling or wearing clothing carrying the Nike logo. The institution said the US sportswear company was named after the Greek goddess of victory and that its swoosh was inspired by her wings.

The ruling said displaying the logo promoted symbols associated with “polytheism”, or the worship of more than one god. It was approved by Libya’s Grand Mufti, Sadiq al-Gharyani. The religious committee also accused Nike of supporting Israel and called for a boycott of companies it considers supportive of the country, referring to a 5 November 2023 statement on boycotting Western companies during the war in Gaza.

The fatwa is a religious opinion on Islamic law, rather than a state ban. It does not set out penalties for people who continue to buy or wear Nike products, and such rulings are not necessarily government orders or legally enforceable, although they can have considerable social influence.

Nike has been contacted for comment. It has no official store in Libya, but Nike-branded goods are sold by local sportswear retailers, alongside counterfeit versions found in local markets. Online reaction to the ruling was mixed, with some people welcoming it and others questioning its importance. The decision follows wider debate about religious conservatism in Libya, where authorities announced restrictions on rap music, theatre and dance performances in 2025.