Two men convicted in Iranian plot to kill U.S.-based critic

Two men have been convicted of murder-for-hire as part of an Iranian government plot to silence a critic in the United States, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Two men have been convicted of murder-for-hire as part of an Iranian government plot to silence a critic in the United States, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Their target was journalist Masih Alinejad, a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Alinejad has been critical of Iran’s treatment of women and of its record on human rights.

Rafat Amirov, 46; and Polad Omarov, 40, were convicted by a federal grand jury in New York City of five counts on Thursday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

The indictment includes charges of murder-for-hire; conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire; conspiracy to commit money laundering; attempted murder in aid of racketeering; and carrying a gun for an attempted murder, the office said.

Alinejad responded to Thursday's verdict in a statement: "For the first time, the regime of the Islamic Republic is being held accountable for bringing its campaign of terror to U.S. soil."

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/two-men-convicted-iranian-plot-kill-us-based-critic-rcna197582

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