Libya's highest religious authority has issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslims from buying, selling, or wearing clothing bea...

Libya's highest religious authority has issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslims from buying, selling, or wearing clothing bearing the Nike logo, citing the brand's direct link to ancient Greek mythology. The ruling was issued by the Tripoli-based Dar al-Ifta and approved by Libya's Grand Mufti, Sadiq al-Gharyani. The institution argues that Nike takes its name from Nike, the ancient Greek goddess of victory, and that the brand's famous swoosh logo was inspired by her wings. Wearing the logo, it contends, amounts to promoting symbols of polytheism, which is prohibited under Islamic teachings. The fatwa also accuses the American sportswear giant of supporting Israel, renewing boycott calls that trace back to a statement issued on 5 November 2023 targeting Western companies considered supportive of Israel during the war in Gaza. Despite the strong wording, the ruling is not a legally enforceable government ban and specifies no penalties for those who continue to wear or purchase Nike products. Libya has been politically divided between rival authorities in the east and west since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, meaning the fatwa carries social weight rather than legal force. The ruling carries a certain irony given that Libya is home to Cyrene, one of the most significant ancient Greek cities in North Africa. Its archaeological remains include representations of the very goddess whose name and image the fatwa now treats as incompatible with Islamic life. This is not the first time Dar al-Ifta has targeted a Western brand over religious symbolism. Last year the same body ruled against jewellery and watches bearing the four-leaf clover design of French luxury house Van Cleef & Arpels, arguing the symbol was associated with Christian beliefs. Nike has no official store in Libya, though its branded products are sold through local retailers. Reactions on social media have been mixed, with some welcoming the ruling and others dismissing it as a distraction from more pressing national challenges. #Greece #AncientGreece #Libya