Libya's top religious authority rules against wearing Nike clothes
The US company was named after the Greek goddess of victory, so the Dar al-Ifta said displaying its logo was unIslamic.
Libya's top religious authority rules against wearing Nike clothes
Nike clothes are popular in Libya, although many are counterfeit
Libya’s highest religious authority, the Dar al-Ifta, has issued a ruling prohibiting Muslims from buying, selling, or wearing clothing that carries the Nike logo.
The decision, issued by the Tripoli-based body, says the US sportswear giant was named after the Greek goddess of victory and that its well-known swoosh logo was inspired by her wings.
It said that wearing clothing with the logo amounted to promoting symbols linked “with polytheism,” or the worship of more than one god.
Libya is home to the ancient Greek city of Cyrene, where archaeological remains include a statue of the Greek goddess of the same name.
The religious committee also accused Nike of backing Israel and called for a boycott of companies that support the country.
It cited a statement from its Council for Research and Sharia Studies dated 5 November 2023, which urged Muslims to boycott Western companies it views as supportive of Israel during the war in Gaza.
The ruling, known as a fatwa, is a religious opinion on a question of Islamic law. It was approved by Libya’s Grand Mufti, Sadiq al-Gharyani.
The BBC has contacted Nike for comment.
The Dar al-Ifta is an influential religious institution based in Tripoli, in western Libya. The country remains politically split, with rival authorities and institutions in the east and west after years of conflict following the overthrow of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
While its religious rulings can have significant social influence, they are not necessarily government directives or legally enforceable.
Last year it ruled against wearing jewellery and watches bearing the logo of French luxury jewellery house Van Cleef & Arpels, arguing that its four-leaf clover design was linked to Christian beliefs and the pursuit of good luck, which it said conflicted with Islamic teachings.
The latest fatwa does not declare a state ban on Nike products or set out penalties for anyone who continues to buy or wear them.
Reactions on social media were mixed, with some users welcoming the ruling, while others questioned its importance, calling it ironic or a distraction from more urgent issues.
The ruling comes amid broader debates over the growth of religious conservatism in public life in Libya.
In 2025, authorities in eastern Libya announced restrictions on rap music, theatre, and dance performances, citing concerns that some lyrics and performances violated public morals and Islamic values.
Those measures were later extended to western Libya.
The Dar al-Ifta has also previously issued religious rulings against music, although there is no clear evidence that it was directly involved in the performance restrictions.
Nike does not run an official store in Libya, but Nike-branded products are sold through local sportswear retailers.
Sportswear brands such as Nike and Adidas are popular throughout North Africa.
In Libya, as in other countries in the region, counterfeit versions of popular sportswear brands are also sold in local markets.