Source: Change.org

Sports brand Nike is currently under fire after thousands signed an online petition demanding the recall of the brand's Nike Air Max 270 shoes. 

The reason?

The petition claims the design on the shoe's sole resembles the Arabic word for "Allah," adding that it "will surely be trampled, kicked and become soiled with mud or even filth." 

The petition adds that the print is "disrespectful and extremely offensive to Muslims and insulting Islam."

The customer who started the petition is UK-based Saiqa Noreen, who asked Nike to take back "this blasphemous and offensive shoe and all products with the design logo resembling the word Allah from worldwide sales immediately."

Nike has since issued a statement on the matter, saying the "logo was a stylized representation of the Air Max trademark," a spokesperson for the brand told Today Style. 

"Any other perceived meaning or representation is unintentional," the statement said. 

"Nike respects all religions and we take concerns of this nature seriously."

More than 19,000 people have since signed the petition

Source: Change.org

Initially posted two weeks ago, the petition has amassed over 19,000 signatures at the time of writing. 

Many have been using Twitter to get Nike to withdraw the shoes from the market.

"Care to explain please"

But, not everyone agrees with the petition

This isn't the first time a Nike product has sparked controversy

In 1995, the shoe company removed a billboard in the United States featuring a basketball player with the headline "They called him Allah."

In 1997, the brand recalled 38,000 pairs of sneakers after receiving the same complaint (as the recent petition) from Muslims. At the time, the company also agreed to donate a $50,000 playground to an Islamic elementary school in the United States.