TWO MEN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS FOR CONSPIRING TO MURDER IRANIAN-AMERICAN JOURNALIST
In a landmark ruling, a federal judge has sentenced two men to 25 years in prison for an Iranian government-backed plot to murder journalist Masih Alinejad. Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, the defendants, were convicted of murder for hire, conspiracy, money laundering, and possession of a firearm in connection with the attempted murder.
Alinejad, who spoke outside the Manhattan courtroom following the sentencing, expressed that her only crime was giving a voice to the women of Iran. She described her life as having been treated like a business transaction, which turned her life upside down. She emphasized that the judge’s ruling is a message to the women of Iran that the U.S. will stand with them.
Alinejad’s husband also spoke, condemning the defendants’ actions and stating that their intent was pure malice. The case has sparked significant attention, with Alinejad’s advocacy work focusing on women’s rights in Iran, a topic she has been vocal about for years.
Authorities foiled the plot, arresting the alleged armed hitman, Khalid Mehdiyev, outside Alinejad’s home in Brooklyn in July 2022. Mehdiyev, who is being tried in a separate case, testified against Amirov and Omarov in their trials. He admitted that Amirov offered him $30,000 to kill ‘the journalist’ as he referred to Alinejad during his testimony.
Mehdiyev pleaded guilty to attempted murder and gun charges in his case, facing up to 15 years in prison. U.S. officials have confirmed that Alinejad has survived multiple assassination attempts since fleeing Iran in 2009, according to the New York Post. This case has become a symbol of the ongoing tensions between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, highlighting the dangers faced by journalists and activists who challenge authoritarian regimes.
The sentencing has drawn attention from human rights organizations, who have long advocated for greater protections for journalists and women’s rights in the Middle East. Alinejad’s case has also underscored the role of the U.S. justice system in upholding the rule of law and ensuring that those who plot violence against individuals, regardless of their nationality, face severe consequences.