Al Sharq Forum  Al Sharq Forum () is an independent pro-democracy, non-partisan, non-profit, think-tank focusing on the greater Middle East. Established in 2012, Wadah Khanfar, the former director general of Al Jazeera Network, is the co-founder and President. Al Sharq Forum is currently headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey, and there is also an office in Geneva, Switzerland.