The British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (“BABCP”) has cancelled a training session on Islamophobia and Mental Health after finding that proposed facilitators for the session had posted antisemitic social media.

Following a complaint from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), BABCP commissioned an independent investigator to assist with its findings.

BABCP said: “Based on the independent review and our own further investigations we concluded that, on the balance of probabilities, a number of posts did meet the threshold of being antisemitic. As a result, and in line with our governance and organisational commitments, we have made the decision not to proceed with appointment of the proposed Facilitators to deliver training to BABCP Members.”

The BABCP has also told UKLFI that

• It will no longer allow the unqualified use of contested terms – such as ‘genocide’ in relation to the events in Gaza – to appear in its publications
• It plans to bring forward antisemitism training for CBT therapists
• It will publish an article by Dr Sandi Mann about impact of antisemitism on mental health in the next edition of its magazine

UKLFI had written to BABCP in mid-March 2025, with a dossier of information about proposed facilitators for the session on Islamophobia..

Facilitator 1 had shared social media posts which suggested that the “Zionist movement” placed “assets” from the State of Israel into the House of Lords and made references to “Zionist paymasters”.  This facilitator’s posts described Zionism as a “racist and genocidal ideology” and said that Jewish schools which teach Zionism are “radicalising” pupils.

On 1 October 2024, this facilitator reposted a tweet expressing “pure joy” at the Iranian missile attack against Israel – a blatant violation of the laws of war, which absolutely prohibit the use of indiscriminate weapons which have the potential to land anywhere, such as missiles.

The same facilitator also reposted a tweet which saids “I hope Hezbollah wins against Israel”, and further acknowledged that “you can’t say this in Britain because you’ll get arrested”.

Facilitator 2 has proclaimed on social media that “any theory/practice to combat Islamophobia that is not-anti-Zionist is effectively meaningless”. In other words, this facilitator contended that in order to combat racism against Muslims, one must be racist against the vast majority of the Jewish population.

The second facilitator has also stated “Our work isn’t done until all Zionists are removed from our institutions and are shamed, alongside all racists, into nothingness” and claimed that “Our healthcare institutions have a Zionism problem.”

UKLFI’s letter referred to BABCP policies, including that the BABCP Board “opposes all forms of discrimination and discriminatory practice of any kind”, that BABCP is committed to “providing an environment free from harassment”, and that BABCP operates a “zero tolerance policy” for “direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment, and victimisation”. BABCP also claims that discrimination of any kind is “unacceptable” and that it aims “to create a safe and welcoming atmosphere for all”.

Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI commented: “We are grateful that BABCP has cancelled the training session and taken additional measures to prevent the spread of antisemitism within their own organisation.”