Two Men Found Guilty
A New York jury has found two men guilty of plotting to assassinate Iranian dissident and journalist Masih Alinejad. Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, both alleged members of the Russian mob, face decades in prison after being convicted on all charges, including murder for hire, firearms possession, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Alinejad, who lives in New York City, expressed relief at the verdict but emphasized that the "real masterminds" behind the plot remain in power in Iran. She specifically named Ali Khamenei and the Revolutionary Guards, calling for their prosecution.
"I am bombarded with emotions," Alinejad said outside court. "I have cried, I have laughed, I have even danced. Because today is not just about my survival; it is about the defeat and humiliation of a regime that believes it can silence its critics with bullets. They failed. I am still here. And I will keep fighting until every criminal in that regime faces their reckoning."
The jury reached their verdict quickly, requesting testimony before ultimately deciding without reviewing the requested materials. Prosecutors presented evidence that the Iranian government had placed a $500,000 bounty on Alinejad's head and that she had been targeted in previous kidnapping plots.
Alinejad, who fled Iran in 2009 after facing government pressure, has been a vocal critic of the regime. She has used her social media platforms to amplify the voices of Iranian women and advocate for human rights. In 2022, she was involved in campaigns to boycott Iranian sporting events and encourage women to remove their hijabs in protest.
The man who confessed to being hired to kill Alinejad, and who testified for the prosecution, was arrested in 2022 after being found with an AK-47 in his car near her home. Alinejad described seeing him outside her home, calling him "gigantic."
The guilty verdict against Amirov and Omarov marks a significant victory for Alinejad and a blow to the Iranian government's attempts to silence its critics abroad. However, Alinejad remains resolute in her fight for justice, calling for the prosecution of those who orchestrated the assassination plot.