In response to the incidents, Aboussad sent an email to Microsoft staff and executives, accusing the company of silencing dissenting employees. The email included a link to a petition from "No Azure for Apartheid," a group of Microsoft employees protesting the company's work with Israel. Microsoft suggested that Aboussad could have raised her concerns through internal channels rather than disrupting the event.
Key takeaways:
- Microsoft terminated the roles of two software engineers, Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal, for protesting the company's dealings with the Israeli military.
- Aboussad disrupted a keynote speech by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, accusing him of having "blood on his hands."
- Agrawal interrupted a panel featuring top Microsoft executives, including CEO Satya Nadella, demanding the company cut ties with Israel.
- An internal email from Aboussad claimed Microsoft silenced dissenting employees and included a link to a petition from "No Azure for Apartheid."