New York, NY— A chilling plot to assassinate an Iranian-American journalist was foiled in Brooklyn, leading to a tense courtroom drama and a deeper probe into alleged international conspiracies. On trial are three individuals, purportedly contracted by Iran’s government to silence a vocal dissident of the regime’s treatment of women.
Khalid Mehdiyev, a 27-year-old who claims ties with the Russian mafia, became the unintended whistleblower of his ineptitude when his bewildering actions, including ordering food while on a stakeout, eventually led to his arrest. In July 2022, his missteps culminated near the journalist’s home as his car was stopped by police for rolling through a stop sign. Officers discovered a loaded AK-47 and a ski mask in his vehicle.
The elaborate murder-for-hire plot targeted Masih Alinejad, an outspoken critic of the Iranian government, who has been in the crosshairs of Tehran since she fled Iran following contested elections in 2009. Now a U.S. citizen, Alinejad’s activism has notably centered on the oppressive conditions facing Iranian women, garnering international attention through various media platforms including the Voice of America.
The defendants, Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, also originally from Azerbaijan like Mehdiyev, face charges of attempted murder in aid of racketeering and murder-for-hire. Prosecutors allege that the Iranian government promised to pay $500,000 for the assassination, positioning Amirov and Omarov as intermediaries orchestrating the lethal commission.
Mehdiyev’s capture dramatically unfolded when surveillance footage showed him clumsily approaching the victim’s residence, foreshadowing his imminent capture. Upon being interrogated, he admitted to having sinister intentions though he initially fabricated a story about searching for new accommodation due to high rent.
In court, Mehdiyev confessed to having earlier plans to entrap Alinejad through falsely amiable communications, feigning interest in immigration assistance. His cold demeanor as he recounted the assassination outline starkly contrasted the gravity of his mission—to seamlessly infiltrate Alinejad’s world and terminate her life.
The defendants insist on their innocence, claiming the prosecution’s reliance on Mehdiyev — described by his own defense attorney as a liar and a murderer — undermines the credibility of the case.
As the trials press on, earlier incidents pointing to Iran’s alleged persistent targeting of Alinejad for her dissent have resurfaced. Approximately a year prior to this thwarted assassination, four individuals were indicted under accusations that they conspired to abduct her, further intensifying scrutiny over Tehran’s purported tactics against exiles.
Meanwhile, Alinejad continues her advocacy, undeterred by the several attempts on her life. Her resolve is heartened by the overwhelming support for freedom in Iran she voices, a stark contrast to the threats she continuously faces.
The ongoing trial not only deals with the immediate charges at hand but also epitomizes the broader issue of governmental persecution reaching into international bounds, aiming to muzzle dissidents even on foreign soil—an alarming trend that sees borders as no barrier to silencing opposition.