Two men have been sentenced to 25 years in prison for their involvement in a failed assassination plot backed by Iran to kill an outspoken dissident living in the United States. The sentencing took place in a New York federal court on March 15, 2024, with US District Judge Colleen McMahon presiding over the case against Rafat Amirov, 46, and Polad Omarov, 41. Both men were convicted of multiple charges, including attempted murder and conspiracy, related to a 2022 scheme targeting Masih Alinejad, a prominent critic of the Iranian government.
During the hearing, Judge McMahon described the crime as “terrible” and highlighted its significant repercussions. Alinejad, who has lived in the US since fleeing Iran in 2009, addressed the court with a group of supporters present. She expressed that the actions of Amirov and Omarov had profoundly disrupted her life, yet she emphasized her resilience. “I crossed an ocean to come to America and have a normal life, and I don’t have a normal life,” Alinejad stated, receiving applause from those in attendance.
The sentences handed down were less severe than the 55 years sought by prosecutors but more than the 10 to 13 years suggested by the defence. The defence team for Amirov and Omarov sought to minimize their clients’ connections to Iran and their roles in the assassination plot. Prosecutors, on the other hand, described both men as crime leaders within the Russian mob and alleged that the Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran had financed the operation with $500,000.
Iran has rejected claims that its intelligence agents attempted to kidnap or kill Alinejad, labeling these allegations as unfounded. The case is part of a broader initiative by the US Justice Department to combat what it refers to as transnational repression, where authoritarian regimes target political opponents outside their borders.
Alinejad is known for her advocacy against Iran’s strict head-covering laws and has garnered significant attention on social media for promoting videos of women flouting these regulations. At the time of the assassination plot, Alinejad was residing in Brooklyn, New York.
In connection with the case, a third individual, Khalid Mehdiyev, faced charges alongside Amirov and Omarov. Mehdiyev pleaded guilty to attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm and provided testimony against the other two men during their trial. He was arrested in 2022 after he was found surveilling Alinejad’s home with an AK-47 and a ski mask in his vehicle. Mehdiyev is currently awaiting sentencing.
The court proceedings and the convictions underscore the ongoing challenges faced by dissidents like Alinejad, who continue to confront threats to their safety even while living in countries that uphold democratic values.
