Masih Alinejad, an Iranian journalist and women’s rights activist, recounted an alarming encounter in court where she came face to face with her would-be assassin. On July 28, 2022, she noticed a large man staring at her through her garden, oblivious to the danger he posed. Alinejad had been targeted numerous times by the Iranian regime since leaving Iran in 2009, and this latest incident occurred near her home in Brooklyn, where the amateurish hitman, Khalid Mehdiyev, was arrested by local police with a loaded AK-47 and a ski mask in his possession.
Despite initially mistaking the man for just another passerby admiring her garden, Alinejad’s instincts hinted at something amiss. As she rushed back inside her house to retrieve a key she had forgotten, she saw him staring at her from the sunflowers. Although she assumed he was harmless and merely taking photos, Mehdiyev was actually there to carry out a hit ordered by Azerbaijani nationals, Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov. Their plan to kill the exiled journalist had been orchestrated by agents of the Iranian government, who have been pursuing her relentlessly.
Alinejad described the tense moments when Mehdiyev was apprehended by the police outside her home, with the loaded rifle discovered in his car. The hitman, who was paid $30,000 for the failed assassination attempt, cooperated with authorities after pleading guilty to charges of attempted murder and gun offenses. Omarov and Amirov are currently on trial for murder-for-hire and attempted murder in aid of racketeering, facing potentially lengthy prison sentences if convicted. The Iranians had paid the duo around $500,000 to carry out the hit, but their botched operation led to their capture by law enforcement.
This incident was not the first time Alinejad had been targeted in America, as a year prior, an Iranian intelligence official and three others were indicted for plotting to kidnap her. Despite the repeated attempts on her life and denial by the Iranian government, Alinejad remains resolute in her determination to advocate for women’s rights and speak out against the oppressive regime in Iran. The failed assassination attempts have only strengthened her resolve to amplify the voices of women in Iran who face similar threats on a daily basis.
The trial of Omarov, Amirov, and Mehdiyev shed light on the lengths to which the Iranian government is willing to go to silence dissenting voices, particularly those who champion human rights and challenge their authority. Alinejad’s bravery and tenacity in the face of such danger serve as a testament to the power of freedom of expression and the importance of standing up against tyranny. Despite the risks and obstacles she has faced, Alinejad continues to advocate for justice and equality, proving that courage and resilience can overcome even the most formidable adversaries. Her story serves as a beacon of hope for those who strive for a more just and inclusive society, free from fear and intimidation.
