David Vance SubstackRead More
Yesterday saw hundreds gather in London’s Victoria Park for the 12th annual Muslim Charity Run, a 5km fundraiser organised by the East London Mosque Trust.
It was billed as a “vibrant celebration of fitness, faith, and community spirit,” and the event promised an “inclusive atmosphere” where participants of “all ages and backgrounds” could run, walk, or jog to support causes like education and healthcare. Sounds ok, right? Wrong.
Beneath the cheerful promotion lies a stark policy: women and girls over 12 were barred from participating. Yes, you heard that right. It’s inclusive as can be but just no women or girls over 12.
Understandably this has created a fierce backlash over misogyny and equality laws. The Muslim organisers were thorough because the exclusion extended to running, walking, or even pushing prams! Females could spectate or cheer from the sidelines. How stunning and brave!!!
The Organisers confirmed the rule when questioned, allowing boys of all ages and girls under 12 to join while citing “modesty concerns” rooted in religious sensitivities.
What is “immodest” about teenage girls and adult women running, exactly? Is there something that they want to share with us but are being a little coy about?
The mosque’s website emphasises family-friendliness, but we can all see the cosmic grade irony: a “unified” event that sidelined half its potential community!!!
Defending the decision, a mosque spokesman has insisted that it complies with the Equality Act 2010, which permits single-sex sporting events. They also drew parallels to women’s-only races like the Nike Women’s 10K or gender-segregated sessions at Orthodox Jewish centres, arguing the policy fosters participation without breaching law. What rubbish!
This story underscores tensions in “diverse” Britain: how far should foreign cultural accommodations bend equality? As Tower Hamlets—led by Mayor Lutfur Rahman—hosts such events, we should fear the normalisation of restrictions on women’s public life. This completely unacceptable but where is the outcry from the feminists?
