Overview
- The 5km Muslim Charity Run went ahead in Victoria Park on Sunday with more than 1,000 participants, and Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman attended and praised the fundraiser.
- Communities Secretary Steve Reed called the exclusion of women and girls aged 13 and over "absolutely unacceptable" and said the EHRC should determine whether laws were breached.
- The Equality and Human Rights Commission said it is considering complaints and will take action where appropriate, while Tower Hamlets Council has sought urgent clarification from organisers.
- The East London Mosque maintains the rules comply with the Equality Act under single-sex sporting exemptions in Section 195 and Schedule 23.
- Muslim Women’s Network UK argued the organisers were likely in breach and said separate start times or women-only waves could have accommodated female runners without conflicting with religious beliefs.