CAIR-WA Condemns Microsoft’s Censoring of the Word “Palestine”
(SEATTLE, WA, 5/22/2025) – The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned Microsoft for their apparent censorship of the word “Palestine” from company emails.
SEE: Microsoft says it’s censoring employee emails containing the word “Palestine.”
According to multiple reports by employees, words such as “Palestine,” “Gaza,” and “genocide” inexplicably disappear when being sent. Microsoft confirmed the censorship, when contacted by reporters.
“This is a moment in which Microsoft and other big tech firms will cement their place in history,” said Imraan Siddiqi, CAIR-WA Executive Director. “We have seen employees being fired for criticizing their involvement in the ongoing genocide in Gaza, as well as mass censorship taking place across the tech sector. Sadly, Microsoft is engaging in literal erasure of Palestinians during the most important human rights issue of our lifetimes.”
Over the past six months, Microsoft has fired employees for hosting a vigil for Gaza in October 2024, and for protesting the Microsoft supplying its AI tech to the Israeli military, by interrupting the company’s 50th anniversary party in April, and most recently, for interrupting a speech by its CEO.
In a 2024 survey by CAIR-WA, 43.3% of Muslims living in Washington reported experiencing discriminatory practices or policies at work in the past year. In 2024, a quarter (25%) of CAIR-WA’s Civil Rights legal intakes were for employment discrimination.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-WA Executive Director Imraan Siddiqi, imraansiddiqi@cair.com
CAIR-WA Communications Director Katie Walker, 425-367-9116, kwalker@cair.com