One of the defendants in the 'assassination' case of Masih Alinejad 'confessed' to attempting to kill her

One of the defendants in the case of the attempted murder of Masih Alinejad confessed in a Manhattan federal court to trying to kill this political activist opposed to the Islamic Republic in 2022. According to Reuters, 27-year-old Khalid Mahdiyev, identified as a member of a Russian organized crime group, confessed on Tuesday, March 12, during the trial of two of his accomplices in the U.S. that he played a role in the plot to kill Ms. Alinejad. Mahdiyev testified to the jury that he was arrested in July 2022 while carrying an AK-47 rifle and a ski mask in his car in Brooklyn. He also stated in court, 'I was there to kill this journalist.' Prosecutors say Mahdiyev was hired by his accomplices, Rafat Amirov and Polad Amirov, to kill Masih Alinejad, a New York-based activist known for her sharp criticisms of the Iranian government and the status of women. Alinejad is a prominent advocate for women's rights and civil and political freedoms in Iran and has played an active role in launching campaigns against compulsory hijab and disseminating news and images related to the civil activities of Iranian women. Rafat Amirov, 45, and Polad Amirov, 40, have denied charges of 'hiring for murder' and 'attempted murder in connection with organized crime.' However, if found guilty in this court, they could face decades in prison. In a motion read by federal prosecutor Jacob Gatwilig at the beginning of the court session, it was stated that the Islamic Republic 'offered to pay $500,000 to Amirov and Amirov to carry out the murder of Alinejad.' The prosecutor also reiterated that 'the defendants acted as hired killers for the Iranian government.' However, Michael Martin, Amirov's lawyer, defended his client by stating that the prosecutors relied on indirect evidence and 'the testimony of a killer and liar.' The Iranian mission to the United Nations did not respond to Reuters' request for comment on this matter. Mahdiyev testified in court that during his decade of criminal activity in his hometown of Azerbaijan, he 'led' murders, kidnappings, and extortion schemes. He also confirmed that he knew the target of this murder plot by the name 'Masih.' According to this report, after accepting the charges of 'attempted murder' and 'illegal possession of a weapon,' Mahdiyev is cooperating with prosecutors and thus faces a minimum of 15 years in prison for the attempted murder of Alinejad and related organized crime charges.