The East London Mosque has ignited a fierce backlash after barring women and girls over 12 from its 12th annual Muslim Charity Run, a 5km event in Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, on October 12, 2025. Billed as “inclusive” and “family-friendly,” the fundraiser—raising over £150,000 for causes like food banks and refugee aid—welcomed men, boys of all ages, and girls under 12, but explicitly excluded older females, prompting accusations of sexism and Sharia overreach. Communities Secretary Steve Reed called it “horrified and appalled,” deeming the exclusion “absolutely unacceptable” and vowing no tolerance for gender barriers. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is investigating potential breaches of the Equality Act, with Baroness Shaista Gohir labeling it “likely unlawful.”
Feminist Kellie-Jay Keen slammed it as “regressively sexist,” while Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman defended the event as a “community effort” fostering unity. Social media erupted with outrage, users decrying “parallel societies” and selective feminist silence, alongside calls for legal action. The mosque insists single-gender events are lawful, citing precedents like women’s-only runs, and reaffirms support for female sports participation elsewhere. Tower Hamlets Council seeks clarification amid fears of deepening cultural divides.
