Libya's highest religious authority, the Dar al-Ifta, has issued a fatwa banning Muslims from buying, selling or wearing clothing that carries the Nike logo, the BBC reported on Tuesday.
The Tripoli-based institution said the US sportswear company was named after the Greek goddess of victory and that its swoosh logo was inspired by her wings. It argued that wearing the logo amounted to promoting symbols associated with polytheism, the worship of more than one god.
The Dar al-Ifta also accused Nike of supporting Israel and called for a boycott of companies that back the country. It pointed to a statement from its Council for Research and Sharia Studies, issued on Nov. 5, 2023, which urged Muslims to boycott Western companies it considers supportive of Israel during the war in Gaza. The fatwa, a religious opinion on a matter of Islamic law, was approved by Libya's Grand Mufti, Sadiq al-Gharyani.
The ruling does not announce a state ban on Nike products or set penalties for people who keep buying or wearing them. Rulings from the Dar al-Ifta can carry considerable social influence but are not necessarily government orders or legally enforceable, the BBC said.
Libya is politically divided, with rival authorities operating in the east and west after years of conflict that followed the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The Dar al-Ifta is based in Tripoli, in the west.
Nike does not operate an official store in Libya, but its products are sold through local sportswear retailers. Sportswear brands such as Nike and Adidas are popular across North Africa, and counterfeit versions are also sold in local markets. The BBC said it has contacted Nike for comment.
Last year the Dar al-Ifta ruled against wearing jewellery and watches bearing the logo of French luxury jewellery house Van Cleef & Arpels. It said the brand's four-leaf clover design was associated with Christian beliefs and the pursuit of good luck, which it said contradicted Islamic teachings.
Reaction on social media was mixed. Some users welcomed the ruling, while others questioned its significance, calling it ironic or a distraction from more pressing issues.
The fatwa comes amid wider debate over religious conservatism in public life in Libya. In 2025, authorities in eastern Libya announced restrictions on rap music, theatre and dance performances, citing public morals and Islamic values, and the measures were later extended to western Libya. The Dar al-Ifta has also issued rulings against music before, though there is no clear evidence it was directly involved in those restrictions.
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