• A jury in New York convicted Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov of plotting to assassinate journalist Masih Alinejad.
• The assassination scheme, tied to the Iranian government, included a $500,000 bounty for Alinejad.
• Alinejad, who campaigns for women's rights in Iran, expressed relief but emphasized that the true masterminds remain in power in Iran.

NEW YORK — A federal jury has convicted two men, Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, of plotting to assassinate Iranian American journalist Masih Alinejad at her Brooklyn home in a plot prosecutors identified as a government-funded scheme financed by Iran. The verdict was delivered following a two-week trial featuring compelling testimonies, including that of a hitman who detailed his plans to eliminate Alinejad.

The men, believed to be connected to Russian organized crime, were found guilty on charges including murder for hire and conspiracy to launder money. Prosecutors contended that a $500,000 bounty was placed on Alinejad's life in retaliation for her advocacy against Iran’s laws mandating headscarves for women, a campaign that has inspired significant unrest among Iranian women.

Alinejad, who has been a vocal critic of the Iranian regime since her relocation to the U.S. in 2009, expressed deep emotional relief upon hearing the jury’s decision. “I am relieved that after nearly three years, the men who plotted to kill me have been found guilty,” she stated, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by those in power in Iran. This conviction is seen as a significant step toward delivering justice for her and others oppressed by the regime.

Prosecutors shed light on past Iranian attempts to silence Alinejad, which included failed kidnapping plots that saw Iranian intelligence officials arrested in 2021. Following ineffective intimidation tactics, the Iranian government escalated its efforts with the assassination scheme. The plot was foiled when Khalid Mehdiyev, another individual involved who pleaded guilty and testified, was apprehended by police while in possession of a firearm intended for Alinejad's assassination.

American officials have accused Iran of being involved in various assassination plots against its critics within the U.S., which Iranian officials have labeled as “ridiculous and baseless.” However, this conviction sends a strong message that attempts to silence dissent through violence will not be tolerated.

For further details, please refer to the articles by BBC and HuffPost.