Two Azerbaijani men, Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, were found guilty of plotting to assassinate Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad. Their role involved contracting with individuals connected to the Iranian government for the murder attempt in 2022. Despite a jury note requesting witness testimony, the verdict was issued surprisingly quickly in federal court. The defendants face serious penalties, with a range of five years to life in prison, and sentencing is set for September 2025. This case highlights the risks faced by exiled journalists and activists.
The jury has reached a verdict, and it came as a surprise given a prior request for witness testimony that wasn't yet fulfilled.
The two Azerbaijani defendants were charged with contracting the Iranian regime to orchestrate the murder of journalist Masih Alinejad.
The men's conviction covers five counts related to conspiracy and murder-for-hire, with sentencing scheduled for September 2025.
One of the defense attorneys commented that the convicted men could face five years to life in prison.
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