U.S. officials charged Iranian military officer Ruhollah Bazghandi in a plot to assassinate human rights activist Masih Alinejad in New York City. The indictment encompasses murder-for-hire and money laundering as part of the charges. Alinejad, living in exile, confirmed she was the intended victim, while the government stresses its commitment to protecting the rights of all Americans against such threats.
A U.S. indictment has charged Ruhollah Bazghandi, a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), in a chilling assassination plot against Iranian American activist Masih Alinejad, who has sought refuge in New York City. The indictment outlines a conspiracy involving murder-for-hire, money laundering, and evasion of sanctions, naming Bazghandi among four co-defendants. Although Alinejad’s name was not directly mentioned in the indictment, she confirmed that she was the intended target of this malicious scheme. Bazghandi, a brigadier general and former chief of the IRGC’s counterintelligence department, has a history steeped in international plots against perceived enemies of Iran. The U.S. government designated the IRGC as a global terrorist organization back in 2017 for its key role in state-sponsored terrorism. Recent findings from April 2023 further implicate Bazghandi in various assassination attempts that extend to foreign journalists and other opponents residing in the West. Federal Attorney General Merrick B. Garland articulated the government’s firm stance: “We will not tolerate efforts by an authoritarian regime like Iran to undermine the fundamental rights guaranteed to every American.” Three of the defendants are currently in custody, but Bazghandi remains at large. Alinejad, who escaped Iran following the tumultuous 2009 presidential election, has expressed her determination to amplify the voices of Iranian citizens, especially the women suffering under oppressive regimes today.
The indictment of Ruhollah Bazghandi unfolds against the backdrop of Iran’s persistent efforts to silence dissidents and activists abroad. Masih Alinejad, an outspoken human rights advocate, has faced severe risks merely for her activism against the Iranian regime. The IRGC’s classification as a terrorist organization by the U.S. supports the broader understanding of the threats posed by Iran to American citizens and their rights to free speech and safety. Alinejad’s exile highlights the immense dangers faced by activists who challenge the authoritarian regime in Iran.
The charges brought against Bazghandi and his co-conspirators underscore a disturbing pattern of aggression by the Iranian regime, targeting its critics even outside its borders. The safety of activists like Alinejad hangs precariously in the balance as U.S. officials work to protect and uphold the rights guaranteed to every citizen. This case stands as a grim reminder of the lengths some regimes will go to suppress dissent and maintain control.
Original Source: www.foxnews.com
