A senior Labour minister has voiced outrage after women and teenage girls were banned from a public charity run organised by a London mosque.
The annual Muslim Charity Run, hosted by the East London Mosque in Victoria Park, faced a backlash after it emerged that females over the age of 12 were not permitted to participate.
While advertised as a “family-friendly” and “inclusive” event, only men, boys of all ages, and girls under 12 were allowed to take part.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed branded the decision as “inappropriate” during an interview on Sky News, adding that the exclusion of women from a public event that men could freely join was “absolutely wrong.”
“We should not be banning women from taking part in fun runs in public parks in this country. I don’t fully understand whether it did or didn’t break the law… but it sounds absolutely wrong to me,” he said.
Controversy Over Equality Laws
The event now faces growing scrutiny, with accusations that it may have violated the Equality Act 2010. The law prohibits discrimination based on gender in public events—though there are exemptions for single-gender activities under certain conditions.
When asked whether there could be consequences for the organisers, Mr Reed said the matter should be looked into by the appropriate watchdog.
“You can’t have women being barred from doing things in public that men are able to do. That strikes me as absolutely wrong and certainly isn’t in line with the expectations British people would have.”
Women’s Rights Groups Speak Out
Several campaigners and rights organisations have criticised the organisers’ decision.
Baroness Shaista Gohir OBE, chief executive of the Muslim Women’s Network UK, said the organisers were “likely” in breach of equality laws by excluding women from a public sporting event.
Human rights campaigner Aisha Ali-Khan added her voice to the criticism on social media: “It’s wrong for the East London Mosque to ban women and girls over 12 years old from taking part in their annual park run. Being healthy and fit is a big part of Islam for all Muslims, not just the men!”
Mosque Defends the Event
Despite the backlash, East London Mosque insists that the run complies with legal guidelines. A spokesperson rejected claims that it breached the Equality Act, pointing to similar gender-specific events that exist across the UK.
“The suggestion that our event breaches the Equality Act is entirely incorrect. Single-gender sporting events are lawful under Section 195 and Schedule 23 of the Act, and are common across the UK, including the Women’s Run Series, Nike Women’s 10K, and gender-segregated swimming sessions at Orthodox Jewish facilities like Manchester Jewish Community Centre,” the mosque said in a statement to The Times.
The mosque added that the Muslim Charity Run follows the same legal framework as these established events.
A Bigger Debate
This controversy opens up wider questions about gender inclusivity in faith-led community events held in public spaces. While legal exemptions exist, critics argue that such exclusions go against the spirit of unity and equal opportunity, especially when an event is held in a public park and promoted as inclusive.
With over a thousand runners turning up for this year’s charity run, many are now asking whether the exclusion of women was necessary or discriminatory.
Public reaction has been swift, with increasing pressure on equality bodies to investigate. Some within the community have also called for more balanced approaches in future events, so no one is left out under the banner of tradition.
The spotlight is now on the East London Mosque and similar organisations to reconsider how they navigate religious practice alongside modern equality standards.
As the debate continues, one thing remains clear: inclusivity is no longer optional, it’s expected.
