NEW YORK — In a criminal case concerning alleged assassination attempts, the Iranian government reportedly placed a $500,000 bounty on Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad, aiming to silence her through a murder plot. This accusation was presented by a prosecutor in a Manhattan federal court.
The plot, said to involve two Russian mobsters tasked with organizing an attempted murder, was thwarted when the alleged hitman was arrested in July 2022 before he could act, the court was told during the trial’s closing arguments.
Alinejad, known for her staunch opposition to certain Iranian government policies, testified about receiving threats following her launch of online campaigns encouraging women in Iran to defy governmental dress codes.
Having left Iran in 2009 post the contested presidential election, Alinejad amassed a significant social media following, urging women to share videos of themselves unveiled, challenging Iran’s strict hijab rules.
Her movement, “My Stealthy Freedom,” motivated many women to defy the regulation requiring hair to be covered in public, clashing with the country’s religious mandates.
Federal prosecutor Michael Lockard described Iran’s actions as labeling Alinejad a governmental foe and attempting various methods to discredit and silence her. He stated that when these efforts faltered, Iran resorted to placing a hefty price on her life.
The case against two men, Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, suggested they were compensated by Iran to execute the plan in 2022, with evidence claimed to be comprehensive.
In defense, the suspects’ lawyers contested that their clients were not involved in criminal conduct. Attorney Michael Martin, representing Amirov, acknowledged Iran’s targeting of Alinejad but denied his client’s involvement.
Martin criticized the testimony of Khalid Mehdiyev, who admitted being offered $30,000 to assassinate Alinejad but was stopped by police for a minor traffic violation, revealing a loaded AK-47 in his car. Martin portrayed Mehdiyev as an untrustworthy figure.
Elena Fast, representing Omarov, echoed doubts about Mehdiyev’s credibility, portraying him as an inept would-be assassin with no true intent of following through with the murder, arguing that the plot was more about deception for financial gain than any murderous intent.
With the prosecution expected to articulate a counterargument shortly, the jury is set to receive legal instructions before commencing deliberations.