Transfer of the Suspect Accused of Planning the Murder of Masih Alinejad to the U.S.

The Czech Republic's Ministry of Justice announced that it has handed over a man accused in the U.S. of planning the murder of Masih Alinejad, a journalist and well-known critic of the Iranian government. The ministry stated that Polad Amurov, 39, who had no further options for appeal, was transferred to U.S. authorities on Wednesday morning, February 21, at Prague's Václav Havel Airport. Amurov was arrested in January 2023 in the Czech Republic. The Czech Minister of Justice had ruled for his extradition in July of the previous year, but this action was delayed due to a complaint from the suspect to the Constitutional Court, which rejected his appeal. Prosecutors have stated that Amurov resided in the Czech Republic and Slovenia. The Czech Ministry of Justice said on Wednesday, February 21, that he is a citizen of Georgia. Amurov, along with Raafat Amirov and Khalid Mahdiev, has been charged with 'hiring for murder' and 'money laundering' due to their involvement in the plot to assassinate Masih Alinejad, an American citizen, which could result in a total of 40 years in prison if convicted. Khalid Mahdiev was arrested in 2022 in New York for loitering outside Alinejad's home with an assault rifle in Brooklyn. U.S. prosecutors also charged four Iranians in 2021 with conspiracy to kidnap Ms. Alinejad in New York. The names of these individuals were Alireza Farahani, Mahmoud Khazayin, Kiya Sadeghi, Omid Noori, and Niloufar Bahadorifar. These individuals were charged with crimes such as kidnapping, violating sanctions, illegal money transfers, fraud, and money laundering. Of this group, Niloufar Bahadorifar was arrested in California, but the others resided in Iran. A four-year prison sentence was issued for Niloufar Bahadorifar in the case of the attempted kidnapping of Masih Alinejad. The FBI has stated that China and Iran are seeking to further harass their opponents on U.S. soil. The prison sentence for Niloufar Bahadorifar; Masih Alinejad stated that she was trying to exploit the names of those killed in protests. Details of the assassination plot against Masih Alinejad were released; the Islamic Republic's cooperation with Eastern European criminal groups. Details of the law 'harassing and illegally targeting Masih Alinejad' in the U.S. budget bill. Exclusive; Masih Alinejad: As long as the Islamic Republic is in power, Americans will not have security in their own country.