A prominent venture capitalist’s anti-Muslim remarks spark outrage among Middle Eastern and Muslim tech entrepreneurs

New York: A recent Islamophobic comment by Sequoia Capital’s influential partner Shaun Maguire has sparked intense controversy in the tech industry. Referring to New York City’s potential first Muslim mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, as an “Islamist” who “comes from a culture that lies,” Maguire’s statement has drawn sharp criticism from Muslim and Middle Eastern tech founders around the world.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) at the beginning of July, Maguire claimed that Mamdani and his father, renowned scholar Mahmood Mamdani, were “excited for a third Intifada,” and that Zohran “supports terrorists.” That post has been viewed over 5.6 million times. Maguire also stirred confusion by referencing Mamdani’s college application, in which he had marked multiple ethnic identities — a detail from 2009 brought to light by a New York Times report.

In response to his remarks, more than 1,000 tech entrepreneurs and business leaders across the globe signed an open letter to Sequoia on July 9, condemning Maguire’s comments and urging disciplinary action. The letter stated: “As builders of the future of technology, we cannot accept leadership from a firm whose partners engage in hate speech and promote bigotry.”

Reaction from the Middle East and Muslim Community

The startup community in the Middle East has reacted strongly. Several startups from the Gulf region, such as Saudi Arabia’s Lean Technologies and Egypt’s Telda, had previously received funding from Sequoia India. Entrepreneurs in the region believe Maguire’s comments reflect not just one individual’s views, but a deeper pattern of Islamophobia embedded within the tech industry.

Hosam Arab, CEO of Tabby, said, “Maguire’s comments opened many people’s eyes. This wasn’t from some unknown investor — this came from a partner at Sequoia, one of the most respected venture capital firms in the world.”

Sequoia and Maguire’s Response

Sequoia Capital has yet to issue an official statement. Meanwhile, Maguire, in a video response, said, “I was referring to Islamists, not all Muslims. I am sorry if I hurt any non-Islamist Muslims.” However, in the same video, he claimed Mamdani’s views go beyond socialism and pose deeper political risks.

Maguire’s previous social media activity has also drawn criticism. He dismissed a video showing dead children in Gaza as “a doll,” called the United Nations a “terrorist organization,” and reposted content from Laura Loomer — a far-right activist who has described herself as a “proud Islamophobe.”

Islamophobia and the War in Gaza

This controversy has emerged in the context of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. Several human rights organizations have raised concerns about the alarming rise in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab sentiment across the U.S. and globally. Abed Ayoub, Executive Director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said, “Spreading hatred against our community should never be normalized or accepted.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), in its 2025 civil rights report, stated that they received 8,658 complaints in 2024 related to discrimination and hate — the highest number since their reporting began.

Economic Pressure and Next Steps

The letter’s signatories warned that if Sequoia does not take a clear stance against Maguire’s remarks, they will begin contacting Sequoia’s limited partners (LPs) — the passive investors who fund the firm but do not make decisions. Some Middle Eastern founders have already started reaching out to wealthy family offices and sovereign wealth funds.

However, some believe that protest alone may not be enough to bring systemic change. One founder said, “We’re not taking sides politically, but we can see that some institutions are tacitly endorsing hate by remaining silent.”

Source: CNN