KEY POINTS
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Libya’s top Islamic authority has prohibited Muslims from buying, selling or wearing Nike-branded clothing in a religious ruling.
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The fatwa cites Nike’s Greek mythology links and alleges the company supports Israel.
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The ruling is not a legally enforceable state ban, and reactions online have been mixed.
Libya’s highest Islamic authority has issued a religious ruling prohibiting Muslims from buying, selling or wearing Nike-branded clothing, arguing that the company’s name and logo are associated with beliefs that contradict Islamic teachings.
Libya’s Tripoli-based Dar al-Ifta has issued a fatwa against Nike-branded clothing, saying the American sportswear company’s name and logo have religious implications that Muslims should avoid.
The institution argued that Nike was named after the Greek goddess of victory and that its distinctive swoosh logo was inspired by the goddess’s wings.
According to the religious authority, wearing clothing bearing the logo amounts to promoting symbols associated with polytheism, the worship of more than one god.
The ruling was approved by Libya’s Grand Mufti, Sadiq al-Gharyani. A fatwa is a religious opinion on a question of Islamic law and does not automatically carry the force of government legislation.
Libya also has a historical connection to ancient Greek civilisation. The country is home to Cyrene, an ancient Greek city whose archaeological remains include a statue of the Greek goddess Cyrene.
Authority renews calls to boycott companies linked to Israel
The Dar al-Ifta also accused Nike of supporting Israel and urged Muslims to boycott companies it considers supportive of the country.
It cited a statement issued by its Council for Research and Sharia Studies on November 5, 2023, which called for boycotts of Western companies viewed as backing Israel during the war in Gaza.
The latest ruling therefore combines religious objections to Nike’s branding with the institution’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
However, the report did not provide independent evidence substantiating the authority’s allegation that Nike supports Israel.
Fatwa does not amount to a state-enforced ban
Despite the strong wording of the ruling, the fatwa does not establish a legally enforceable ban on Nike products across Libya.
The Dar al-Ifta is an influential religious institution based in western Libya, but its rulings are not necessarily government directives. The latest decision does not specify legal penalties for people who continue to buy, sell or wear the products.
Libya remains politically divided between rival authorities and institutions in the east and west following years of conflict after the overthrow of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Nike does not operate an official store in Libya, although its products are available through local sportswear retailers. Nike and Adidas remain popular brands across North Africa, where counterfeit products are also sold in local markets.
Previous ruling targeted luxury jewellery brand
The Nike ruling follows an earlier decision by the Dar al-Ifta against jewellery and watches bearing the logo of French luxury jewellery company Van Cleef & Arpels.
The religious body objected to the company’s four-leaf clover design, arguing that it was associated with Christian beliefs and the pursuit of good luck, which it said conflicted with Islamic teachings.
The latest decision comes amid broader debates about religious conservatism and its influence on public life in Libya.
In 2025, authorities in eastern Libya introduced restrictions on rap music, theatre and dance performances, citing concerns that certain lyrics and performances violated public morals and Islamic values. The measures were later extended to western Libya.
The Dar al-Ifta has also previously issued rulings against music, although there is no clear evidence that it directly introduced the restrictions on performances.
Social media reactions divided
The Nike ruling has generated mixed reactions online, with some users welcoming the decision and others questioning its relevance.
Critics described the move as ironic or a distraction from more pressing challenges facing the country, while supporters backed the authority’s position on religious observance.
The decision adds to ongoing discussions about the role of religious institutions in shaping consumer choices, cultural expression and public behaviour in Libya.
