In a dramatic turn of justice, two men have been found guilty in a chilling murder-for-hire plot aimed at silencing Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad at her Brooklyn home. The pair, identified as Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, now face decades behind bars after a New York federal jury convicted them on serious charges, including conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, firearms possession, and money laundering.
According to U.S. prosecutors, the plot was backed by the Iranian government, which has long viewed Alinejad as a threat due to her outspoken activism against the country’s mandatory hijab laws and broader human rights abuses. The journalist, who fled Iran in 2009 and later joined Voice of America, has been a persistent voice for Iranian women and dissidents, using her platform to challenge the regime’s oppressive policies.
This isn’t the first time Alinejad has been targeted. In 2021, U.S. authorities foiled a kidnapping scheme orchestrated by Iranian intelligence officials. When that failed, prosecutors say the regime escalated its tactics—putting a $500,000 bounty on her life.
After just three hours of deliberation following a two-week trial, the Manhattan jury delivered its verdict. The convicted men were described as having ties to organized Russian crime, adding another layer of international intrigue to the case.
Reacting to the news, Alinejad released a powerful statement:
“I’ve cried, laughed, and even danced. Today isn’t just about surviving—it’s about exposing and defeating a regime that believes it can silence dissent with bullets. They failed. I’m still standing, and I will continue to fight until every criminal in that regime is brought to justice.”
This case marks yet another dark chapter in Iran’s ongoing attempts to intimidate and eliminate its critics abroad. But for Alinejad and many like her, the conviction represents more than justice—it’s a victory for freedom of speech and a warning to those who think they can silence it.
