Nike has been slapped with a fatwa – a religious decree from an Islamic leader – for “promoting polytheism,” since the sneaker brand is inspired by the Greek goddess Nike.
The Dar al-Ifta, Libya’s top religious authority, issued the ruling, which bans Muslims from buying, selling or wearing clothing with the iconic Nike swoosh.
It argued that wearing clothes with the sneaker brand’s famous symbol is the same as “promoting polytheism,” since the swoosh is modeled after the ancient Greek winged goddess of victory.
The Islamic institution also attacked Nike for supporting Israel, citing a 2023 finding from its Council for Research and Sharia Studies. It has called for a boycott of Israel and all companies that support the nation.
A fatwa is a formal decree from an Islamic leader on matters typically related to daily life. Though influential, the opinions are not legally binding.
Libya is home to the ancient Greek city of Cyrene, where 19th- and 20th-century excavations uncovered a statue of the goddess Nike and related fragments.
Nike does not operate any stores in Libya, though its products are sold at other retailers in the war-ravaged country. Around the region, counterfeit versions of Nike products and other popular brands, like Adidas, are also often sold in local markets.
In 2025, the Dar al-Ifta issued a similar fatwa against Van Cleef & Arpels, the luxury French jeweler known for its thousand-dollar bracelets.
It argued that the brand’s four-leaf clover design was tied to Christian beliefs like good luck and fortune, which contradict Islamic teachings.
Last year, authorities in Libya also announced restrictions on rap music, theatre and dance, arguing that some lyrics and public performances go against Islamic values.
One of the most infamous fatwas in recent memory targeted author Salman Rushdie. He went into hiding after Iranian zealots passed a decree against him in 1989. Madman Hadi Matar thought he was acting on the fatwa when he viciously attacked the novelist in 2022.
Nike did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
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