A charity in east London has responded to criticism from a government minister after hosting a fundraising run that prevented women and girls over 12 from taking part.
On Sunday, the East London Mosque Trust held its 12th annual Muslim Charity Run, a 5k race that brought together over 40 charities and community groups.
On its website, the charity said it welcomed “all ages and abilities” to the “family-friendly” and “inclusive” event, yet the run itself was only “open to men, boys of all ages and girls under 12, but everyone is welcome at the park to cheer on the runners”.
Speaking to radio station LBC yesterday, housing secretary Steve Reed said it was “absolutely unacceptable that women should be blocked from going on a fun run in a public space when the men are allowed to go out there and do that”.
Reed added: “We don’t want a situation in this country where men are allowed to do things that women are then barred from. We cannot tolerate that.”
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is assessing whether the East London Mosque Trust breached the Equality Act 2010 to determine if it is appropriate for it to intervene.
Steps could have been taken to ‘accommodate women’
The Muslim Women’s Network UK (MWNUK) also expressed concerns about the event, saying that organisers “could have taken practical steps to accommodate women and girls without compromising religious beliefs”.
“For example, women could have participated by starting their run at a different time or in separate groups,” the organisation said in a statement.
MWNUK’s chief executive Shaista Gohir added: “Such adjustments would have been straightforward and would have demonstrated a commitment to inclusion while avoiding the reinforcement of negative stereotypes about Muslims.
“It’s worth noting that during the pilgrimage to Makkah, men and women are often in close proximity – far more so than would occur during a charity run.”
Meanwhile, Tower Hamlets Council said it had contacted the mosque to seek urgent clarification following the reports about age and gender restrictions.
“We’re firmly committed to ensuring leisure and sporting activities in Tower Hamlets are inclusive and accessible,” a spokesperson told Civil Society.
Charity’s response
In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for the East London Mosque said it had “a long-standing commitment to supporting women and girls”, and encouraged “women to take part in sporting activities”.
“Many Muslim women from our community actively participate in sporting events, including boat races, cycling, hiking and marathons as well as various sporting challenges to raise funds for charity,” they told Civil Society.
“We remain committed to listening to the needs of our community and ensuring our programmes serve everyone.”
The spokesperson added that the Maryam Centre, which is part of the mosque, was one of the first purpose-built women’s facilities of its kind in the UK when it opened over a decade ago.
“Building on our rich heritage and strong traditions of supporting all parts of the community, including women, the East London Mosque is due to launch a new women’s fitness and wellness hub in November, further strengthening our support for women’s health and empowerment,” they said.
“Our goal remains the same: to nurture faith, wellbeing, and social good for everyone in our community.”
The East London Mosque Trust was given an official warning by the Charity Commission in May after “failing to responsibly manage charity funds” in relation to an investment deal, which resulted in the loss of £1m.
As part of the official warning, the charity was given six months to take action, or it may face further scrutiny.
