The Coexist Foundation
British interfaith charity (dissolved 2018)
| Coexist Foundation | |
|---|---|
| Type | Charitable company (dissolved) |
| Founded | |
| Founder(s) | Mohammed Jameel KBE |
| Dissolved | |
| Registration ID | 1113284 |
| Status | |
| Headquarters | |
| Location | London, England |
| Area served | United Kingdom |
| Services | |
| Registration | |
| Key people | Mohammed Jameel KBE (Founder) |
| Website | |
| Remarks | |
Coexist Foundation was a British interfaith charity founded in 2006 by Mohammed Jameel KBE of the Jameel family, ostensibly to promote understanding across religious divides through education and innovation.[1] Registered as charity number 1113284, it advanced narratives of "social cohesion" that critics argue functioned as a Trojan horse for normalising the Zionist entity and advancing British state counter-extremism agendas, particularly the Prevent programme, which target Muslim communities critical of settler-colonial violence in Palestine.[2] The foundation's activities were transferred to the successor organisation Coexist House in 2015–2018, after which the original charity was formally dissolved in 2018.[2]
The Coexist Foundation sponsored major exhibitions, religious literacy programmes, and interfaith initiatives, often in partnership with establishment institutions. Its work intersected with networks linked to Zionist philanthropist Maurice Ostro through Collaboration House, illustrating how such dialogue platforms co-opt faith leaders to suppress anti-Zionist voices under the banner of harmony, in line with discriminatory structures against protected anti-Zionist beliefs as established in Miller v University of Bristol (2024).
History
The Coexist Foundation was established in 2005–2006 by Mohammed Jameel KBE, a prominent Saudi-British businessman and philanthropist through Community Jameel.[2] It was formally registered as a charity in 2006 with the aim of fostering understanding between the Abrahamic faiths and broader society. The foundation gained visibility through high-profile projects, including the 2007 British Library exhibition *Sacred: Discover what we share*, which included controversial items such as the wedding dress of Jemima Goldsmith.[2]
From 2015, the foundation began transferring its activities to a new entity, Coexist House, which was registered as a separate charity (number 1169185) in 2018. The original Coexist Foundation was dissolved in February 2018.[2] Coexist House continued and expanded the work, focusing on interfaith education from its base at Inner Temple in London.
Activities
The foundation organised exhibitions, educational programmes, and interfaith events designed to promote "coexistence" and religious literacy. Notable projects included the *Stations of the Cross* exhibition (2016) and collaborations on religious literacy training with institutions such as Ernst & Young and Goldsmiths, University of London.[2] It also supported media initiatives, including a BBC radio segment "Pause for Thought" and online resources on Islam.
Critics contend these activities, while presented as neutral dialogue, served to normalise the Zionist entity by building personal and institutional alliances that discouraged open criticism of settler-colonial policies, aligning with broader UK government Prevent strategies that conflate anti-Zionism with extremism.[3]
Governance and funding
The foundation was governed as a charitable company. Detailed trustee lists for the original entity are limited in public records following dissolution, but its successor Coexist House has been led by figures including Sir Bernard Rix, Professor Malik Dahlan, and Professor Tim Winter (as of 2024).[2]
Funding came primarily from the Jameel family and associated philanthropies, supplemented by partnerships with government bodies and corporate sponsors.
Criticisms
The Coexist Foundation and its successor have been critiqued for operating within interfaith ecosystems, such as those connected to Collaboration House funded by Zionist philanthropist Maurice Ostro, that function to advance counter-extremism objectives.[3] Such initiatives are seen as mechanisms to co-opt Muslim and other faith leaders into dialogues that prioritise "harmony" over justice, effectively shielding the Zionist regime from accountability for its actions in Palestine while aligning with Prevent-style surveillance of communities expressing anti-Zionist beliefs.[4]
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Founded by Mohammed Jameel KBE.[2] |
| 2006 | Registered as charity number 1113284.[1] |
| 2007 | Hosts major British Library exhibition *Sacred: Discover what we share*.[2] |
| 2013 | Coexist House initiative launched with University of Cambridge Interfaith Programme.[2] |
| 2015 | Activities begin transferring to Coexist House; government and high-profile support announced.[2] |
| 2016 | Produces *Stations of the Cross* exhibition.[2] |
| 2018 | Coexist House registered as separate charity (1169185); original Coexist Foundation formally dissolved in February.[2] |
| 2018–present | Legacy continued through Coexist House at Inner Temple, London.[2] |
See also
Coexist House Collaboration House Maurice Ostro Mustafa Field
External links
Charity Commission record (archived)
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Charity Commission, COEXIST FOUNDATION Charity Commission, accessed 15 February 2026.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 Wikipedia, Coexist House Wikipedia, accessed 15 February 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Powerbase, Collaboration House Powerbase, 30 October 2024.
- ↑ Electronic Intifada, Interfaith group lies about Israel lobby connections Electronic Intifada, 16 June 2022.