The East London Mosque has defended a charity run open only to men, boys and girls under 12, after a female leader said Muslim women in the community "do not need saving" by outsiders who misunderstand their values. The event, held in Tower Hamlets, prompted a wave of hate mail and criticism, including from Communities Secretary Steve Reed, who said he was "horrified".
Sufia Alam, who leads the mosque's Maryam Centre for women's worship, said the run was designed for a specific community and that women were initially invited but only one or two expressed interest. "I can't do a race with one or two women," she told the BBC. She added that the mosque's congregation of 10,000 had not complained, and that women regularly participate in women-only activities such as badminton, swimming, lifeguard training and football coaching.
Alam dismissed suggestions that women were banned, saying: "As a woman, it's ridiculous that people think we need saving... Nobody asked us; they just assumed we were banned." She also highlighted the threat of hate crime, saying women in the community feared going for a walk without being attacked. The mosque said it had received dozens of abusive emails, including messages telling worshippers to "get with our laws or leave".
Chief executive Junaid Ahmed said the mosque had increased security in response to the heightened risk. He emphasised the contributions of Muslims to British society, saying: "Muslims are doctors... We want to bring good to this society and live in a tolerant society where freedom of expression and diversity is not only tolerated, it's celebrated."
Cross-bench peer Shaista Gohir, head of the Muslim Women's Network, said the disproportionate attention reflected "levels of hatred towards Muslims in Britain" rather than genuine concern for equality. She urged Muslim organisations to reflect on whether they are truly welcoming to women, while noting that assumptions about women's preferences could not be made. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is understood to have begun examining the issue.
