Introduction to the Case
A jury has convicted two men of plotting to assassinate Iranian American journalist Masih Alinejad at her home in New York City in a murder-for-hire scheme that prosecutors said was financed by the Iranian government.
The verdict was returned at a federal court in New York on Thursday, ending a two-week trial that featured dramatic testimony from a hired gunman and Alinejad, an author, activist and contributor to Voice of America.
The Convicted Men
Prosecutors said the convicted men, Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, were crime bosses in the Russian mob. Their lawyers argued that they were innocent and trial evidence was flawed.
Motivation Behind the Plot
Prosecutors said Alinejad, 48, was targeted by Iran for her online campaigns encouraging women there to record videos of themselves exposing their hair in violation of edicts requiring they cover it in public.
Iran offered $500,000 for a July 2022 killing of Alinejad after efforts to harass, smear and intimidate Alinejad failed, prosecutors said.
International Implications
American officials have accused Iran of backing several assassination plots in the United States, including against President Donald Trump when he was campaigning last year. Tehran has denied being behind any plots to kill people in the U.S.
Reaction to the Verdict
Alinejad, who was not in court, told The Associated Press she cried when she learned about the verdict.
“I am relieved that after nearly three years, the men who plotted to kill me have been found guilty. But make no mistake, the real masterminds of this crime are still in power in Iran,” she said.
The Trial and Testimonies
Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, whom prosecutors said were crime bosses in the Russian mob, were convicted in a murder-for-hire scheme that prosecutors said was financed by the Iranian government.
Alinejad testified last week that she came to the United States in 2009 after she was banned from covering Iran’s disputed presidential election and the newspaper where she worked was shut down.
Establishing herself in New York City, she built an online audience of millions and launched her “My Stealthy Freedom” campaign, telling Iranian women to send photos and videos exposing of them exposing their hair when the morality police were not around.
The Assassination Plot
Soon, she said, she had inspired women to take to the streets in Iran on Wednesdays to peacefully protest, leading the government to arrest hundreds of them. The crackdown only caused her following to grow, however.
At the trial, prosecutors said that by 2022, the Iranian government had enlisted high-level Russian mobsters, including Amirov and Omarov, to kill Alinejad.
Khalid Mehdiyev, a former member of the Russian mob who lived Yonkers and worked at a pizzeria, testified that he was hired as the hitman. Like Amirov and Omarov, he is from Azerbaijan, which shares a border and cultural ties with Iran.
Mehdiyev, who cooperated with prosecutors after pleading guilty to multiple crimes, said he bought an AK-47 to kill Alinejad but the plan was foiled when his car was stopped by police and the gun was found in the back seat in July 2022.
Ongoing Investigation
Prosecutors have kept the investigation open. In October they announced charges against a senior Iranian military official and three others, none of whom are in custody.
Conclusion
The conviction of Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov marks a significant step in holding accountable those who seek to silence journalists and activists through violence and intimidation. The case highlights the ongoing threats faced by individuals who speak out against oppressive regimes and the importance of protecting freedom of speech and expression.
FAQs
Q: Who were the two men convicted of plotting to assassinate Masih Alinejad?
A: Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, who were identified as crime bosses in the Russian mob.
Q: Why was Masih Alinejad targeted by Iran?
A: Alinejad was targeted for her online campaigns encouraging women in Iran to record videos of themselves exposing their hair in violation of edicts requiring they cover it in public.
Q: What was the outcome of the trial?
A: The jury convicted Amirov and Omarov of plotting to assassinate Alinejad in a murder-for-hire scheme financed by the Iranian government.
Q: What has been the reaction to the verdict?
A: Alinejad expressed relief that the men who plotted to kill her have been found guilty, but noted that the real masterminds of the crime are still in power in Iran.
