‘Islamist movement’ attacked for 'normalising' female oppression in Britain in scathing criticism of mosque ousting women from charity run

The event, organised by East London Mosque, is being held in Victoria Park in Tower Hamlets and will see no women complete the 5km circuit.

"This is a systemic oppression of women in the UK that is becoming normalised by the Islamist movement that's also taking place in the UK," Lily Moo told GB News presenter Dawn Neesom.

"We have to remember that in Islamic countries like Iran, where the Islamic Republic is ruling, women are not allowed to take part in public sports," she added.

"So, even if we do see Iranian women, female sportswomen in the Olympics taking part, if, for example, they don't follow the ruling of the Sharia law that is in place, they are facing severe consequences even as far as execution in Iran."

The activist raged: "Why is it that girls from the age of 12 and women are banned from taking part in this charity run if the Muslim community in the UK is so confident in their inclusion of women in society in all parts of active and open society of the UK?

"Why is it that their men cannot stand running next to their women in the streets of London?"

The GB News guest further questioned that if physical activity is so fervently forbidden, why Islamist women were allowed to take part in public prayer in the streets of London - an activity which is banned in Islam.

"Women are not to be seen during a prayer. That's actually sin," the activist explained.

Namas - the prayer performed in Islam - is not accepted in public because the woman has been seen by men who are not her family members.

"That movement is considered, as you say, not very conservative to be seen by men who are not family members of the women who are taking part in our prayer," she said.

"If that is okay for furthering the agenda of the Islamist movement that's taking place in London, why is it not okay to have the Muslim women run next to their men?"

The ban by East London Mosque has come amid increasing concerns about the rise of sharia values incorporating themselves into British society.

During his state visit, US President Donald Trump hit out at London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, claiming the city wants "to go to sharia law".

On Saturday evening, the Equality and Human Rights Commissions confirmed that it would look into the case after it was exposed by the Mail on Sunday, while campaigners dubbed the move as "regressively sexist" and "plainly unlawful".

An East London Mosque spokesman said: "The suggestion that our event breaches the Equality Act is entirely incorrect.

"Single-gender sporting events are lawful under Section 195 and Schedule 23 of the Act, and are common across the UK, including the Women's Run Series, Nike Women's 10K, and gender-segregated swimming sessions at Orthodox Jewish facilities like Manchester Jewish Community Centre.

"The Muslim Charity Run operates under the same legal framework as these established events."