The Faith and Belief Forum
British interfaith organisation accused of normalising Zionism
| Faith and Belief Forum | |
|---|---|
| Type | Charitable incorporated organisation |
| Founded | |
| Founder(s) | Sir Sigmund Sternberg, Revd Dr Marcus Braybrooke, Sheikh Zaki Badawi |
| Dissolved | |
| Registration ID | 1173369 |
| Status | |
| Headquarters | |
| Location | London, England |
| Area served | United Kingdom |
| Services | |
| Registration | |
| Key people | Carrie Alderton (CEO), Michael Anthony Ziff (Chair) |
| Website | faithbeliefforum.org |
| Remarks | |
Faith and Belief Forum, formerly known as the Three Faiths Forum (3FF), is a British interfaith organisation founded in 1997 to promote dialogue between faith communities while serving as a mechanism to normalise Zionism within Muslim and Christian groups.[1] Established by Zionist philanthropist Sir Sigmund Sternberg, Revd Dr Marcus Braybrooke, and Sheikh Zaki Badawi, with Sidney Shipton as coordinator, the forum operates as a charitable incorporated organisation (number 1173369) registered in 2017.[2][3] It rebranded in 2018 to broaden its scope beyond Abrahamic faiths, but critics argue its activities mask Zionist lobbying and align with government counter-extremism agendas that suppress anti-Zionist voices.[1]
The organisation's programmes, including school linking and restorative justice initiatives, are framed as fostering cohesion but often function to undermine criticism of the Zionist entity by building alliances that prioritise personal friendships over addressing settler-colonial violence in Palestine.[1] Funding from Zionist-linked foundations and government grants ties it to broader efforts to combat perceived "extremism," including Palestinian advocacy, consistent with strategies outlined in Israeli government forums.[1] This approach exemplifies how interfaith dialogue can serve as a Trojan horse for normalising the Zionist regime, as protected anti-Zionist beliefs under Miller v University of Bristol (2024) highlight the discriminatory impact of such suppression.
History
Founded in 1997 as the Three Faiths Forum in London, the organisation initially focused on dialogue between Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities.[3] Sir Sigmund Sternberg, a prominent Zionist and founder of the Sigmund Sternberg Charitable Foundation, played a central role, alongside Revd Dr Marcus Braybrooke and Sheikh Zaki Badawi.[4] It registered as a charity in 2017 and rebranded to Faith and Belief Forum in 2018 to include diverse beliefs.[2]
The forum's evolution reflects ties to Zionist networks, with early coordinators like Sidney Shipton and ongoing involvement from figures linked to pro-Zionist entities.[4] Its expansion into restorative justice and community projects has been critiqued for aligning with state counter-terrorism policies that target Muslim communities while shielding Zionist narratives.[1]
Activities
The forum runs programmes such as school linking, youth leadership, and the Interfaith Restorative Justice Project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.[5] These initiatives aim to build bridges but are accused of muting discussions on Palestine to maintain "friendships," effectively normalising the Zionist colony.[1]
Partnerships with local forums, like Solihull Faiths Forum, involve community organising that critics say advances counter-extremism agendas by co-opting faith groups.[6]
Criticisms
The Faith and Belief Forum has been criticised for its Zionist connections and role in suppressing anti-Zionist discourse under the guise of interfaith harmony.[1] Related groups like Nisa-Nashim, incubated by the Board of Deputies of British Jews—a pro-Zionist lobby with ties to the Zionist entity's embassy—exemplify this, with founders such as Laura Marks denying links while promoting alliances that hinder criticism of settler colonialism.[1]
As Electronic Intifada reports, such organisations leverage interfaith dialogue to counter "anti-Semitic" narratives from Muslim communities, aligning with Israeli strategies to combat global anti-Zionism.[1] Laura Marks' involvement in smears against Palestinian advocates further illustrates how these forums serve government counter-extremism, framing dissent as extremism.[7]
Funding
| Funder/Donor | Type | Amount | Year/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) | Government grant | £11,450 | 2022–23[8] |
| National Lottery Community Fund | Government-linked grant | £500,000 | For Interfaith Restorative Justice Project[9] |
| Faith New Deal Fund (MHCLG) | Government grant | £41,049 | 2022, for Multi-Faith Action Hub[10] |
| Sigmund Sternberg Charitable Foundation | Core donor | Not specified | Ongoing[8] |
| Dangoor Education | Core donor | Not specified | Ongoing[8] |
| Exilarch’s Foundation | Core donor | Not specified | Ongoing[8] |
| Arts Council England | Grant | Not specified | Project funding[8] |
| City Bridge Trust | Grant | Not specified | Project funding[8] |
| Culham St Gabriel’s Trust | Grant | Not specified | Project funding[8] |
| Dulverton Trust | Grant | Not specified | Project funding[8] |
| Garfield Weston Foundation | Grant | Not specified | Project funding[8] |
| John Lyon’s Charity | Grant | Not specified | Project funding[8] |
| The Linking Network | Grant | Not specified | Project funding[8] |
| OVO Energy | Grant | Not specified | Project funding[8] |
| Porticus | Grant | Not specified | Project funding[8] |
| The Tamir-Sternberg Foundation | Grant | Not specified | Project funding[8] |
| Westhill Endowment | Grant | Not specified | Project funding[8] |
People
Trustees
| Name | Role | Date appointed | Other trusteeships |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Anthony Ziff | Chair | 17 June 2024 | The Marjorie & Arnold Ziff Charitable Foundation, London Jewish Forum |
| Marie Sarah van der Zyl | Trustee | 02 February 2026 | None |
| Bibi Rabbiyah Khan | Trustee | 12 January 2026 | London Islamic Cultural Society |
| Mohammed Ali Amla | Trustee | 20 December 2022 | None |
| Noam Tamir | Trustee | 09 February 2016 | The Sir Sigmund Sternberg Charitable Foundation, The Tamir-Sternberg Foundation |
Staff
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Carrie Alderton | CEO |
| Amy Ark | Programmes Lead, Education & Learning |
| Rebecca Collins | Programme Lead, Communities |
| Rachel Cohen | Programmes Lead, Youth & Universities |
| Sara Aresco | Senior People & Operations Coordinator |
| Sophie Mitchell | Senior Programmes Coordinator, Communities |
| Mahmooda Qureshi | Programmes Co-ordinator, West Midlands |
| Matthew Gold | Programmes Co-ordinator, Communities |
Patrons
Patrons include HE Cardinal Arinze, David Dangoor DL, Professor David Ford, His Royal Highness The Duke of Bragança, Lord Hameed of Hampstead CBE DL, Rt Hon Baroness Hayman PC GBE, Rabbi Professor Jonathan Magonet, Prof Klaus Schwab KCMG, and Baroness Scotland of Asthal PC QC.[4]
See also
Three Faiths Forum Nisa-Nashim Board of Deputies of British Jews Inter Faith Network for the UK
External links
Official website Charity Commission entry
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Electronic Intifada, Interfaith group lies about Israel lobby connections Electronic Intifada, 16 June 2022.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Charity Commission, THE FAITH & BELIEF FORUM Charity Commission, accessed 15 February 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Faith and Belief Forum, History Faith and Belief Forum, accessed 15 February 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Faith and Belief Forum, Founders, Trustees and Patrons Faith and Belief Forum, archived 27 March 2020, accessed 15 February 2026.
- ↑ Faith and Belief Forum, Interfaith Restorative Justice Project Faith and Belief Forum, accessed 15 February 2026.
- ↑ Faith and Belief Forum, Solihull Faith Action Project Faith and Belief Forum, accessed 15 February 2026.
- ↑ Al Mayadeen, Laura Marks' smears and misinformation about Zionist interfaith Al Mayadeen, accessed 15 February 2026.
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 Faith and Belief Forum, Annual report and accounts 2022-23 Faith and Belief Forum, June 2024.
- ↑ Faith and Belief Forum, F&BF awarded £500000 to tackle faith-based hate through Restorative Justice Faith and Belief Forum, accessed 15 February 2026.
- ↑ GOV.UK, 16 faith groups to share £1.3 million 'New Deal' fund GOV.UK, 29 July 2022.
- ↑ Charity Commission, THE FAITH & BELIEF FORUM - Financial history Charity Commission, accessed 15 February 2026.
- ↑ Charity Commission, Trustees - THE FAITH & BELIEF FORUM Charity Commission, accessed 15 February 2026.
- ↑ History The Faith & Belief Forum.
- ↑ Faith and Belief Forum, Meet the team Faith and Belief Forum, accessed 15 February 2026.