Muslims are demanding Nike recall their AIR MAX 270 shoe over an apparently “offensive” logo displayed on the bottom of the product.
“Nike needs to recall offensive shoe with Allah’s name from worldwide market,” a Change.org petition created by Saiqa Noreen is titled. The petition has racked up over 15,000 signatures thus far.
“Nike has produced the Nike Air Max 270 shoe with the script logo on the sole resembling the word Allah in Arabic, which will surely be trampled, kicked and become soiled with mud or even filth,” said Noreen.
“It is outrageous and appalling of Nike to allow the name of God on a shoe. This is disrespectful and extremely offensive to Muslim’s and insulting to Islam. Islam teaches compassion, kindness and fairness towards all,” the petition continues.
“What a shame! @Nike act #blasphemous by writing #Allah on “Air Max 270 Trainers”. You should #remove all the articles atonce [sic] & stop further production. This world is for #love, don’t fill it with #HATE. Its [sic] not only #offensive to #Muslims rather offensive to the whole #mankind,” wrote a Twitter user.
Another angry Twitter user wrote, “I request a 1.8 billion population of the earth (Muslims) not to buy any @Nike products bcz they [are] disobeying Allah. See the pictures here and go through the link, you will find the truth. #boycottnike.”
Nike was criticized in 1997 for using a “flame-shaped logo that also resembled the word for Allah,” noted Fox News. “In that case, Nike pulled 38,000 pairs of sneakers worldwide and donated $50,000 to an Islamic elementary school in the United States.”
Noreen’s petition noted of the past backlash: “After recalling trainers in 1997, which had a similar logo depicting the word Allah, Nike claimed to have tighten scrutiny on logo design. So why has a similar design been approved?”
“We urge Nike to recall this blasphemous and offensive shoe and all products with the design logo resembling the word Allah from worldwide sales immediately,” Noreen added. “We also request stricter scrutiny of products before they enter the market.”
The petitioner encouraged “all Muslims and everyone who respects the freedom of religion or belief to sign this petition.”
A spokesperson for Nike denied that the AIR MAX 270 logo was intended to represent anything concerning the Muslim faith.
“Nike respects all religions and we take concerns of this nature seriously,” the spokesperson told Fox News in a statement. “The AIR MAX logo was designed to be a stylized representation of Nike’s AIR MAX trademark. It is intended to reflect the AIR MAX brand only. Any other perceived meaning or representation is unintentional.”
In September, Nike made a controversial move in naming national anthem-kneeling former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick as the face of the brand’s 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign. Soon after the QB’s career started to decline in 2016, Kaepernick told reporters: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”
Critics of the move began posting images of their Nike gear being incinerated by flames to social media, adding a #BoycottNike hashtag.