Lebanese shoe band Ritika has faced mounting criticism by customers who accused it of naming shoes after Muslim religious figures
A Lebanese shoe brand became embroiled in controversy following the release of its latest range of handbags and shoes, with accusations on Wednesday that it was named after religious figures highly revered by Muslims – including the wives and daughters of the Prophet Muhammad.
Ritika Shoes’ recent online marketing campaign unveiled its new line of products, revealing item names allegedly attributed to the wives and daughters of both the Prophet Muhammad and the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham).
The move was swiftly condemned by customers, who described the act as blasphemous and Islamophobic.
This prompted Lebanese lawyer Mohammed Ziad Jaafil to file a complaint with the country’s Public Prosecution.
In his legal submission, Jaafil argued that “naming commercial products after sacred women constitutes a violation of their rights and dignity”.
The backlash further escalated after Lebanese media reported incidents of violence in response to the controversy.
Ritika Shoes’ store branches in the cities of Halba and Tripoli were reportedly targeted by protesters.
According to L’Orient Today, both the Halba and Tripoli stores were shut down and sealed with red wax after a group of angry youths set fire to the Tripoli branch.
Meanwhile, in Halba, a group of men reportedly dismantled the store’s exterior signage, throwing the letters of the brand’s name to the ground in protest.
Representatives of the Lebanese shoe brand have since responded to the protests.
Dany Haddad, Ritika’s partner and Business and Market Development Manager, said in a statement that the company typically draws inspiration for product names from Italian, Arabic, and French origins, and that there was no intention to offend or promote anti-Muslim sentiment.
“We respect all people of different races and religions, which we consider a red line that must not be crossed,” Haddad said.
He added that Ritika had previously named a shoe ‘Marie’ a few years ago, and “did not receive any complaints” at the time.
On Ritika’s official Instagram account, a statement was issued via Instagram Stories– visible to followers for only 24 hours- in which the company admitted that “an unintentional error occurred in the selection of some names, which were later revealed to have resonated with religious sentiments among a broad segment of society.”
The company has since pledged to take immediate corrective action by withdrawing the controversial product names, conducting a full review of its marketing strategy, and establishing an internal committee to ensure future content is culturally and religiously sensitive.
Lebanese social media users have taken to various platforms to express their outrage, warning that the situation has contributed to heightened tensions in cities such as Tripoli.
Others have called for a continued boycott of Ritika’s products despite the company’s public apology, criticising the brand for what they described as a “lack of respect for all religions and people of faith”.
