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WATCH: Martin Daubney and Fahima Mahomed descend into bitter row over 'sexist' park run ban
Oct 14, 2025
GB News host Martin Daubney has torn into broadcaster Fahima Mahomed after she claimed that those criticising a ban on women and girls from a mosque's park run were part of an "anti-Muslim campaign".Shutting down Ms Mahomed's argument, Martin declared that the event was "blatant sexism" and "cultural apartheid".FULL STORY HERE.
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Let's speak now with the political commentator Fahima Mohammed
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Fahima, always a pleasure. What's the problem with allowing women and young women to go for a run
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This is blatant sexism. I think this whole issue has been taken widely out of proportion
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and frankly it's because it's an organiser, happened to be Muslim. The East London Mosque acted entirely within the law
0:23
The Equality Act of 2010, Section 195 and Schedule 23, clearly allows single-sex events where it's proportionate way of respecting religious and
0:31
cultural beliefs. The same legal exemption covers women-only gyms, swimming sessions, and the Race for Life, the cancer event, which was women-only for decades. We've seen, you know
0:42
never seen outrage when Jewish Orthodox or Christian Catholics groups hold gender-specific
0:48
gatherings. Nobody calls that discriminatory. We call it religious freedom. Yet when a Muslim
0:53
charity does something similar, suddenly it's national news. And that's a double standard
0:57
for me. It was a community charity run, open to everyone to attend, cheer and donate. Women
1:02
weren banned from the park They simply just chose to have a men event It not open for everyone to attend It calls itself inclusive and family It isn either of those things It misogynistic
1:16
And that's because the Muslim organisers of this, they've got a problem with women going for a jog
1:25
Why is that? Why is it that it's the age of 12? And we all know that's the age of puberty
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Why are Muslims afraid or ashamed or clamping down on the participation in sports of young women
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something which should be thoroughly encouraged in the United Kingdom. This is British law, not Sharia law
1:44
This is not Sharia law. This is exactly, and I just said, it is part of British law
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It has nothing to do with that. They are entitled to have their own policies, and they can be
1:54
If you're so generally concerned about gender equality, maybe focus on pay, power and safety
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not a 5K fundraiser that helps local people. Real inclusion means respecting differences
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not policing it. And at the end of the day, this was in a park open where everyone can come and watch
2:09
Like I just mentioned, we've got, you know, gender restricted events and practices that are not unique to the Muslim community
2:15
So the women can watch but they can take part Segregated norms in public life That a part it cultural apartheid It a total exclusion of all of the women in this Muslim community
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How, as a Muslim woman, can you support other Muslim women not being allowed to participate in a bogus, inclusive and family event
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It simply paints the picture to the most moderate people watching this
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that the Muslim community is patriarchal and has got a problem with women
2:47
that's just your framing it's just an anti-muslim campaign and that's what exactly what it is because
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like i said local controversies in london like the jewish neighborhood stanford hill over posters
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and gender signage you know signages show similar women allowed into mosques to regulate public space
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by by sex and that's exact sort of behavior critics single out when only it's a muslim so again i just
3:11
think it's a campaign against muslims and there are different groups and different religions that
3:15
have exactly the same and that's how it works. Fahima, you would like to post this as a campaign against the Muslim community. Perhaps you'd
3:23
even like to drop the word Islamophobia in there. I put it to you. No that your definition not Brian I just say anti hate and that how it works The words of the mayor by the way the mayor of Tower Hamlets who taking down English flags taking down union flags
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and banning Muslim women from fun runs. Now, this isn't Britain. This is insane
3:45
Well, again, like I mentioned, it's just selective outrage reveals cultural biases
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and media and political backlash often escalates when Islam is involved and the same energy isn't shown
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for other faith-based separations. And it doesn't just happen in Israel. When was the last time Jewish women were banned from a run
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You've got to be fair and impartial. Maybe, you know, not just go after one faith. Give me one incident of Jewish women
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ever being banned from a charity run. It's not one incident. I'll wait. It's their practice as well
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I'll put the kettle on. You won't find one. It doesn't happen. It's the Christian, you know, bishops
4:18
It's everyone in the same way. And again, it is in line with British law. And every mosque has its own policy
4:24
Every woman are in sports. My sister is a black belt in karate. she also wears the hijab
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My mum doesn't wear the hijab. We all have differences. We all have different ways of interpretation
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But again, I just think it's selective outrage right now. OK, well, it's selective outrage if you're a Muslim woman
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because you can't take part. Reema Mahmoud, thank you very much for your time. Always a pleasure to have you on the show
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