Moroccan software engineer Ibtihal Aboussad was reportedly fired by Microsoft after interrupting the company’s 50th-anniversary event to protest its artificial intelligence (AI) contracts with the Israeli military. A second employee who also protested was fired as well, according to a group representing the workers.
The incident began Friday when Aboussad walked onto the stage during a presentation by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman. She accused the company of selling “AI weapons to the Israeli military” and having “blood on their hands,” referencing the conflict in the region.
Aboussad threw a keffiyeh scarf, a symbol of Palestinian support, onto the stage before being escorted out. Her protest briefly paused the livestreamed event, which was attended by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer. Suleyman acknowledged her, saying, “Thank you for your protest, I hear you.”
Another employee, Vaniya Agrawal, protested later during the celebration and was also subsequently fired.
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