On October 29, 2025, a Manhattan federal courtroom became the stage for a dramatic reckoning in a case that has gripped international observers and defenders of press freedom alike. Two men, Rafat Amirov, 46, and Polad Omarov, 41, faced sentencing for their roles in a plot to assassinate Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad at her Brooklyn home—a plot that, according to prosecutors, came "chillingly near success" and was orchestrated at the behest of Iranian intelligence.
This high-profile case, reported by outlets including ABC and The Times of Israel, has highlighted the reach of authoritarian regimes and the dangers faced by outspoken dissidents abroad. Prosecutors argued that Amirov and Omarov, described as crime bosses in the Russian mob—Amirov hailing from Iran and Omarov from Georgia—were motivated solely by "their own power and wealth" when they agreed to the $500,000 contract to kill Alinejad, a prominent author, activist, and contributor to Voice of America.
In the courtroom, the stakes were clear. Prosecutors sought 55-year prison sentences for both men, emphasizing not only the gravity of the crime but the international implications of such a brazen attempt to silence a critic of the Iranian regime. Defense attorneys, however, painted a different picture. Amirov’s lawyers argued that his involvement was "minimal, if not non-existent," and requested a sentence of no more than 13 years. Omarov’s attorneys, meanwhile, cited threats to his own life following the killing of a relative reputed to be a leader in the "thieves-in-law" criminal organization, and asked for a 10-year sentence.
The trial, which unfolded over two weeks in March 2025, was nothing short of dramatic. Testimony included accounts from a hired gunman as well as from Alinejad herself. The journalist, now 49, has long been a thorn in the side of Iranian authorities. After being banned from covering Iran’s disputed presidential election in 2009 and watching her newspaper shuttered, she fled to the United States. In New York, she built a massive online following and launched "My Stealthy Freedom," a campaign encouraging Iranian women to record themselves exposing their hair in defiance of the country’s mandatory headscarf laws.
Prosecutors detailed how Iranian intelligence first attempted to kidnap Alinejad in 2020 and 2021, hoping to forcibly return her to Iran to silence her criticism. When harassment, intimidation, and smear campaigns failed, they turned to more drastic measures. In July 2022, Iranian officials offered a $500,000 bounty for her assassination. It was then, according to court documents, that Amirov and Omarov entered the picture. As prosecutors put it, the two men "appeared completely incurious about who they were plotting to murder and why," focusing solely on the promised reward.
The plot, as described by the prosecution and reported by The Times of Israel, nearly reached its deadly conclusion. A hired gunman made repeated attempts to locate Alinejad at her Brooklyn residence. The only reasons the attempt failed, prosecutors said, were a stroke of luck—Alinejad happened to be out of town—and the "diligence and tenacity of American law enforcement, which detected and disrupted the plot in time." No one was physically harmed, but the threat was all too real.
Alinejad’s activism and visibility have made her a perennial target for the Iranian government. As prosecutors wrote, she "dedicated her life to exposing the cruelty, corruption, and tyranny of the Islamic Republic." Her campaigns, particularly those encouraging women to shed their hijabs on camera, have drawn global attention and inspired countless acts of civil disobedience inside Iran. For the regime, silencing her became a priority.
On the day of sentencing, Alinejad was determined to confront her would-be killers in person. In a message to her supporters, she announced, "They'll receive their sentence, and I'll speak my truth in my impact statement." The moment was a culmination of years of fear and resilience; since the plot was uncovered, Alinejad has had to move nearly two dozen times to evade further threats.
The case against Amirov and Omarov is just one part of a broader investigation. In October 2024, prosecutors announced charges against a senior Iranian military official and three others believed to be connected to the plot, though none of those individuals are currently in custody. The investigation remains open, reflecting the ongoing risks to dissidents and journalists critical of the Iranian government.
Omarov’s path to the New York courtroom was itself a saga. Detained in the Czech Republic in 2023, he was extradited to the United States in February 2024 to face trial. Both men were ultimately convicted in March 2025 after a jury heard the full scope of the conspiracy and the chilling details of how close the plot had come to fruition.
The story of Masih Alinejad’s fight for justice has resonated far beyond the courtroom. Her personal journey—from being banned in Iran and forced into exile, to building a platform that champions women’s rights and free expression—has inspired many. Yet, her ordeal is also a stark reminder of the lengths to which powerful states will go to silence dissent, even on foreign soil. As reported by ABC and The Times of Israel, the involvement of Russian mobsters as proxies for Iranian intelligence adds a further layer of complexity and international intrigue to the case.
For now, Alinejad continues her work, undeterred by the dangers. Her presence at the sentencing, her willingness to confront those who sought to end her life, and her advocacy for others facing similar threats all underscore the resilience required to speak truth to power. As prosecutors and supporters alike have noted, the disruption of the plot was a testament to the vigilance of law enforcement—but also to the courage of those who refuse to be silenced.
The sentencing of Amirov and Omarov may close one chapter in this saga, but the larger story—a story of resistance, risk, and the ongoing battle for freedom of expression—remains far from over.
