Organisers of the Muslim Charity Run say they are reassessing their rules after facing criticism for barring women and girls over 12 from taking part in this year’s event.

The 5km run, held in Victoria Park in east London last month, was promoted as an inclusive race open to “all ages and abilities”. However, participation was restricted to men, boys and girls aged under 12 — a decision that prompted concern from campaigners.

The event, run by the East London Mosque and the London Muslim Centre, drew several hundred participants and spectators. But the Muslim Women’s Network UK said the exclusion of older girls and women risked reinforcing “negative stereotypes” and urged organisers to ensure future races are more accessible.

On Sunday, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) confirmed it would take no further action. A spokesperson said the organisers had agreed to review the event’s format ahead of next year’s run.

“We recognise that the organisers have committed to reviewing their policies,” the EHRC said. “If further complaints arise, we are ready to re-examine the concerns. We also provide guidance on complying with the Equality Act 2010 to help ensure events are inclusive and non-discriminatory.”

While equality law allows certain exemptions for charities and religious groups — including the option to restrict events to a single sex — the Muslim Women’s Network UK argued that more could have been done. Measures such as staggered start times or separate running groups, they said, could have enabled women and girls to take part without conflicting with religious considerations. Photo by AA, Wikimedia commons.