Religious authority in Tripoli, Libya, bans Muslims from wearing Nike clothing and accuses firm of backing Israel

Libya’s Dar al-Ifta, described as the country’s highest religious authority, has issued a ruling that bans Muslims from buying, selling or wearing clothing bearing the Nike logo. The ruling, known as a fatwa, is a religious opinion on a matter of Islamic law. It was approved by Libya’s Grand Mufti, Sadiq al-Gharyani, and was issued by the institution in Tripoli, in western Libya.

The ruling states that the US sportswear company was named after the Greek goddess of victory and that its swoosh logo was inspired by her wings. It argues that wearing clothing displaying the logo amounts to promoting symbols associated with polytheism, 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 supporting Israel and called for a boycott of companies that back the country. It referred to a statement issued by its Council for Research and Sharia Studies on 5 November 2023, which urged Muslims to boycott Western companies it considers supportive of Israel during the war in Gaza. Such claims about a company’s position call for careful checking before they are repeated, a lesson in truth and fairness (Proverbs 18:17).

Religious rulings of this kind can carry considerable social influence, but they are not necessarily government orders or legally enforceable. The latest fatwa does not announce a state ban on Nike products and does not specify penalties for people who continue to buy or wear them. The ruling comes at a time when Libya is politically divided, with rival authorities and institutions operating in the east and west after years of conflict that followed the toppling of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Last year the Dar al-Ifta ruled against wearing jewellery and watches bearing the logo of the French luxury jewellery house Van Cleef & Arpels. It argued that the four-leaf clover design was associated with Christian beliefs and the pursuit of good luck, which it said contradicted Islamic teachings.

Social media reactions to the Nike ruling were mixed. Some users welcomed it, while others questioned its significance, describing it as ironic or a distraction from more pressing issues. The ruling also comes amid wider debates over the rise 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. The Dar al-Ifta has previously issued rulings against music, although there is no clear evidence that it was directly involved in the restrictions on performances.

Nike does not operate an official store in Libya, but Nike-branded products are available through local sportswear retailers. As in other countries in the region, counterfeit versions of popular sportswear brands are also sold in local markets.

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