The UK's charity watchdog is facing mounting criticism after refusing to investigate a Muslim charity that prevented women and girls over the age of 12 from participating in a fundraising fun run.
Controversial Ban Sparks Outrage
The Charity Commission has decided against taking action against the East London Mosque Trust, claiming there is 'no evidence' that the charity isn't operating for the 'public benefit'. The decision comes despite revelations that last month's 5km Muslim Charity Run in East London, billed as 'inclusive' and 'family-friendly', barred teenage girls and women from taking part.
Women's rights campaigners have condemned the ban as 'regressively sexist' after The Mail on Sunday exposed the policy, with some critics accusing the organisers of being more 'conservative' than Saudi Arabia.
Political Pressure and Regulatory Response
The Conservative Party had formally written to the charity watchdog last month demanding an investigation into whether 'such a public event is compatible with charity law'. The letter, signed by Tory chair Kevin Hollinrake, shadow equalities minister Claire Coutinho and shadow women's minister Mims Davies, stated: 'The banning of women and older girls is direct sex and age discrimination. It is blatant segregation, and marginalisation of women by men.'
David Holdsworth, the chief executive of the Charity Commission, responded on Tuesday by refusing the investigation request. In a letter seen by the Daily Mail, he wrote that while the Commission had considered whether the event might indicate the charity wasn't delivering its 'charitable objects for the public benefit', they had found 'no evidence of a pattern of failures' required to meet such a test.
Background and Further Complications
The fun run, originally named Run 4 Your Mosque, has been held since 2012, with the latest fundraiser taking place in Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, on October 12. The Commission's letter also revealed that it had previously launched a regulatory inquiry into the East London Mosque Trust over concerns about 'poor financial management', resulting in an official warning earlier this year.
Mr Hollinrake described the watchdog's refusal to investigate as 'disappointing' and said the public would have expected a 'more robust response'. He added: 'Given that the charity was issued with an official warning earlier this year over poor financial management, we would have hoped for a more robust response rather than a wait-and-see approach.'
The Commission noted that the Equality and Human Rights Commission had already looked into the fun run and decided to take no further action. However, the charity watchdog is 'seeking more details from the EHRC' and may assess the charity's compliance with any future directions.
A Charity Commission spokesman defended the decision, stating: 'Parliament specifically included an exemption in equalities law to allow events supporting or promoting a charity to be restricted to one sex only.' Meanwhile, the East London Mosque has insisted their policy didn't contravene the Equality Act, comparing it to women-only running events.
