In a high-profile trial set against the backdrop of international intrigue, two men accused in an alleged Iranian government-backed conspiracy to assassinate a notable Iranian journalist and human rights advocate appeared in court on Monday. The trial, held in a federal court in New York City, commenced with assurances from the presiding judge to potential jurors, clarifying that, “nobody got killed.”
The accused, suspected members of an Eastern European criminal syndicate connected to Iran, were indicted in early 2023 for their involvement in a 2022 scheme to assassinate Masih Alinejad. Alinejad, renowned for her journalism and contributions to Voice of America, sought refuge in the United States following the contentious presidential election in Iran in 2009.
Expected to testify in the trial, Alinejad, an American citizen since October 2019, has been under persistent threat from the Iranian government. Known only as the “Victim” in court documents, she declined to comment on the proceedings as they began.
Judge Colleen McMahon addressed a group of over 100 potential jurors, detailing the case against Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, natives of Azerbaijan, a nation sharing both geographical and cultural ties with Iran. The charges against them encompass murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder, she informed them, while emphasizing, “Nobody got killed.”
Clarifying the situation, the judge confirmed, “There was, in fact, no murder.” She introduced the accused to the jurors, highlighting that both men had entered pleas of not guilty and remained presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors plan to call on witnesses, including specialists, to provide context for Iran’s historical targeting of political dissenters worldwide, especially those like Alinejad who have been critical of the country’s regime.
The U.S. government’s indictment starkly outlines Iran’s ongoing campaign against dissidents globally, asserting that it seeks to kidnap or eliminate nationals of the U.S. and its allies for their opposition to the Iranian regime.
While Judge McMahon agreed to admit some testimony about Iran’s relentless international vendettas, she deemed an extensive exploration of 45 years of such conduct excessive and unfair to the defendants, neither of whom are Iranian nationals or part of Iranian intelligence. Jurors, she asserted, would receive adequate evidence directly related to the current charges.
In a pre-trial ruling, McMahon noted that it was pertinent for the jury to comprehend the reasons why Iranian affiliates would target Alinejad, based on historical threats she faced, reinforcing the case’s context.
Prosecutors documented that as far back as 2018, Iranian officials attempted, unsuccessfully, to entice Alinejad’s family in Iran to lure her to a location where she could be seized and extradited back to Iran. Further escalating in 2020, an Iranian intelligence plot aimed to abduct her within the U.S., a plot that was revealed and thwarted by federal authorities in 2021.
Monday’s trial centers on claims that Amirov, identified as a leader within an Eastern European crime group, was asked to target Alinejad by unknown figures. Amirov, reportedly, enlisted Omarov from Europe to help carry out the plan.
Court documents reveal the plot’s complexity, including recruiting a New York-based operative with promises of $30,000 to execute the attack. Alinejad’s activism, notably through initiatives like “White Wednesday” and “My Stealthy Freedom,” challenges Iran’s mandate on women’s headscarves, leading to potential arrest for participants.
The scheme unraveled when Alinejad’s vigilance over suspicious activity around her residence prompted her to leave, culminating in the apprehension of the would-be assailant by New York police. Officers discovered the hired individual in possession of a firearm, ammunition, cash, and a black ski mask, leading to his arrest on federal firearms charges. The trial proceeds as the prosecution presents its case against the alleged conspirators.
