Sequoia Capital Under Fire as Partner's "Islamophobic" Posts Against NYC Mayoral Candidate
Over 1,100 tech founders and leaders demand action after partner Shaun Maguire accused Zohran Mamdani of promoting an "Islamist agenda" and coming from a "culture that lies about everything," highlighting what critics call pervasive bigotry in Silicon Valley.
A firestorm of controversy has engulfed Sequoia Capital, one of Silicon Valley's most prestigious venture capital firms, after partner Shaun Maguire unleashed a series of social media posts widely condemned as Islamophobic, targeting New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Maguire's posts, which began on July 4, accused Mamdani of being an "Islamist" who "comes from a culture that lies about everything". The remarks triggered immediate and widespread outrage, mobilizing over 1,100 tech founders and business leaders worldwide to sign an open letter demanding that Sequoia investigate Maguire and take disciplinary action. The incident has cast a harsh spotlight on what many critics describe as a pervasive and tolerated climate of anti-Muslim bias within the tech industry.
The Inflammatory Spark
The controversy began when Maguire reacted on the social media platform X to a New York Times report detailing that Mamdani, who is of Indian heritage and was born in Uganda, had identified as both "Asian" and "Black or African American" on a 2009 university application. In a post that quickly went viral, Maguire wrote, "Mamdani comes from a culture that lies about everything. It's literally a virtue to lie if it advances his Islamist agenda". The post garnered more than 5.6 million views as of July 23, according to CNN's reporting.
Tech Community Erupts in Protest
The backlash from the tech community was swift and forceful. An open letter began circulating on July 9, condemning Maguire’s statements as a "deliberate, inflammatory attack" that promotes "harmful anti-Muslim stereotypes". The letter’s signatories, which include founders of Sequoia-backed companies, called on the venture capital giant to publicly denounce Maguire’s comments, issue an apology, and take decisive disciplinary measures.
"We cannot accept leadership from a firm whose partners engage in hate speech and spread bigotry," the letter stated, according to Forbes. The signatories warned that Sequoia's response would determine whether the firm stands for inclusion or complicity with hatred.
"Mamdani comes from a culture that lies about everything. It's literally a virtue to lie if it advances his Islamist agenda."
— Shaun Maguire, Partner at Sequoia Capital, in a post on X, as reported by the Bridge Initiative at Georgetown University
Maguire Doubles Down Amid Furor
Despite the growing condemnation, Maguire has largely remained defiant. He posted a follow-up video in which he reaffirmed his core allegations, reiterating his belief that Mamdani is an "Islamist" and a "wolf in sheep’s clothing". While offering a partial apology "to any Muslim that is not an Islamist," he dismissed the open letter as an example of "cancel culture".
Maguire further escalated his attacks by making inflammatory claims about Mamdani's father, Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani, and alleging that both men defend terrorists and were "so excited" for a potential third Intifada.
Sequoia's Silence Amplifies Concerns
As the controversy raged, Sequoia Capital remained publicly silent, issuing no formal statement addressing Maguire's conduct or the demands of the tech community. This lack of response has only fueled the outrage, with many signatories interpreting the firm's silence as a tacit endorsement of Maguire's rhetoric.
"Any failure to take action signals tacit acceptance of anti-Muslim hatred and racism," the open letter asserted. One anonymous founder told CNN that Sequoia’s inaction suggests an implicit approval of such statements.
"They echo the same Islamophobic tropes that have fueled harassment, discrimination, and violence against Muslims in this country for decades."
— Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), commenting on the rhetoric against Mamdani
A Symptom of a Deeper Problem
For many Muslim and Middle Eastern tech leaders, the incident is not an isolated event but a reflection of a deeper, more systemic issue of Islamophobia within the tech and venture capital sectors. Critics argue that powerful figures in the industry have engaged in anti-Muslim rhetoric with few, if any, consequences, a trend they say has been exacerbated by the political climate surrounding the conflict in Gaza.
Nadia Rahman, a political activist, told Georgetown University's Bridge Initiative that when a person of Maguire's stature shares "anti-Muslim, racist rhetoric" without facing consequences, "it normalizes those problematic ideas. And it gives permission for others to do the same".
"Someone who is in his role, and of his stature, sharing anti-Muslim, racist rhetoric, and not facing any consequences for his statements, normalizes those problematic ideas. And it gives permission for others to do the same."
— Nadia Rahman, political activist, to Georgetown University's Bridge Initiative
The Path Forward
The open letter called for specific actions from Sequoia, including the establishment of a zero-tolerance policy against religious discrimination and a hotline for reporting incidents involving firm staff. As the pressure mounts, the controversy has become a crucial test of accountability in an industry that prides itself on meritocracy and forward-thinking values. The outcome will likely have lasting implications not only for Sequoia's reputation but also for the broader conversation about discrimination, hate speech, and corporate responsibility in the technology and finance sectors.