Libya’s highest Islamic religious authority has issued a ruling prohibiting Muslims from buying, selling or wearing Nike products, arguing that the American sportswear company’s name and logo are associated with ancient Greek mythology and therefore contradict Islamic religious principles.
The ruling, issued on November 1 by the Tripoli-based Dar al-Ifta and approved by Grand Mufti Sadiq al-Gharyani, identifies Nike as the ancient Greek goddess of victory and claims that the company’s distinctive swoosh logo was inspired by the goddess’s wings.
According to the BBC, The Washington Post and Libyan newspaper The Libya Observer, the decision, registered as fatwa No. 6697, states that displaying the Nike logo amounts to promoting symbols associated with polytheism, which Islamic teachings reject.
The ruling does not constitute a government-imposed ban and carries no specified legal penalties. However, Dar al-Ifta remains an influential religious institution in Libya, where religious authorities continue to shape public debate over cultural practices and acceptable social behavior.
Greek mythology and accusations of supporting Israel
The religious committee argued that consumers purchasing clothing bearing the Nike logo were publicly displaying symbols associated with the worship of multiple gods. It called on Muslims to stop wearing the brand and urged retailers to discontinue selling its products.
The controversy has a historical connection to Greece. Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, was traditionally depicted as a winged figure, symbolizing triumph in warfare and athletic competition. The American company adopted the name in 1971, while its famous swoosh became one of the world’s most recognizable commercial symbols.
Libya itself has a significant ancient Greek heritage, particularly in the archaeological city of Cyrene in eastern Libya, founded by Greek settlers in the seventh century BC. Among its surviving archaeological remains are representations of Greek deities, including Nike.
Beyond the religious objections, Dar al-Ifta accused Nike of supporting Israel and reiterated its call for a boycott of companies it considers supportive of Israeli policies during the Gaza conflict.
The institution referred to a November 2023 declaration urging Muslims to boycott Western businesses accused of supporting Israel. The allegations against Nike were made by the religious authority and were not accompanied by independently verified evidence of the company’s alleged political activities.
According to Egyptian newspaper Al-Shorouk and Libya’s Ean Libya, the fatwa was issued following a question submitted to the religious committee about whether wearing Nike-branded clothing was permissible under Islamic law.
Although the company does not operate its own stores in Libya, its products are widely available through independent retailers, alongside counterfeit merchandise.
Growing restrictions on music, fashion and public expression
The Nike ruling follows several similar decisions reflecting increasing religious scrutiny of Western brands and cultural activities in Libya.
In 2025, Dar al-Ifta issued a religious opinion against wearing jewelry and watches bearing the four-leaf clover design associated with French luxury company Van Cleef & Arpels. The institution argued that the symbol was linked to beliefs about good fortune that it considered incompatible with Islamic teachings.
Separately, Libyan authorities introduced restrictions on music and artistic performances in 2025.
According to Deutsche Welle and The New Arab, authorities in eastern Libya required rap musicians to obtain official authorization before performing or releasing music, citing concerns that some lyrics violated public morals and Islamic values.
Similar restrictions were subsequently introduced in western Libya, extending official oversight to theatrical productions, dance performances and other cultural events.
Human rights organizations have criticized such measures as restrictions on freedom of expression. Libyan authorities, however, have defended them as necessary to protect public morality and religious values.
Libya remains politically divided between rival administrations in Tripoli and eastern Libya, a situation that has persisted since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The latest ruling has generated mixed reactions on social media, with some users supporting the religious authority’s position and others questioning the relevance of restrictions on sportswear amid the country’s continuing political and economic challenges.
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