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Transcript/ScriptUS-Iran-Transnational-Reprisals
HEADLINE: Suspected Plot Against VOA Persian Host in New York Underscores Dangers of Transnational Reprisal
TEASER: Azeri man facing weapons charges after being seen lurking outside home of VOA Persian host Masih Alinejad
PUBLISHED AT: 08/11/22 at 855p
BYLINE: Igor Tsikhanenka
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: New York
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: JJ; KE
RELEASED BY: Jepsen
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _ TV_X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:14
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES: For VOA Press Freedom
All Khomenei footage is NO ACCESS VOA Persian ))
((INTRO))
[[Experts warn that a weak response by Western governments to authoritarian regimes trying to silence critics abroad encourages more undemocratic countries to engage in such practices. VOA Persian news anchor Masih Alinejad was nearly a victim of such actions. Igor Tsikhanenka has more from New York]]
((NARRATOR))
The last 12 months of her life could easily be a chapter out of an international spy thriller.
((Masih Alinejad, Journalist)) ((Female, English))
"It was shocking! It was frightening. I literally got the goosebumps"
((NARRATOR))
First, in the summer of 2021, the FBI foiled a kidnapping plot against VOA journalist Masih Alinejad.
Five Iranians are suspected of planning to kidnap her in New York City, take her by boat to Venezuela and then on to Iran. Four Iranian nationals are currently being held on charges of conspiracy to kidnap Alinejad.
Then in July of this year, footage showed a 23-year-old Azeri man on the porch of her Brooklyn home.
Police later stopped the man, identified as Khalid Mehdiyev, and found $1,100 in cash and a loaded AK-47 with an obliterated serial number in his car. A preliminary hearing in federal court is listed for Friday.
((For Radio: Again, journalist Masih Alinejad))
((Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist)) ((Female, English))
“Of course, I am afraid! I am a normal human being! // But I believe that the regime is scared of me as well.”
((NARRATOR))
A passionate critic of Tehran, an Iranian-American who works for VOA, a journalist, and staunch defender of women’s rights, Alinejad has been in exile in the U.S. since 2009. But even here, she is targeted for her activism.
((Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist)) ((Female, English))
"There were several attempts by the Iranian regime to get rid of me. You know why? Because now, I became like a nightmare for them. Not just me. Millions of women like me. They are scared of our hair! Can you believe that?"
((NARRATOR))
Tehran denies any involvement. Now, under 24/7 FBI protection, Masih is a victim of what experts call transnational reprisal: attempts by authoritarian governments to silence critics abroad. Freedom House says it is seeing more rogue regimes being emboldened.
((For radio: Yana Gorokhovskaia is research director at Freedom House))
((Yana Gorokhovskaia, Research Director, Freedom House)) ((Female, English))
“And more governments are also acting within democratic countries: inside the United States, or inside the EU, where people think they are actually safe after they have escaped the authoritarian country”.
((NARRATOR))
Several factors could explain the trend, Gorokhovskaia says.
((Yana Gorokhovskaia, Research Director, Freedom House)) ((Female, English))
“There is a spread of cheap spyware technology that enables even the poorest dictators to undertake some of these tactics.
“Another factor is that democracies so far have not really had a strong response to incidents, even of murders that happened on their soil.”
((NARRATOR))
Alinejad, who has over 7 million followers on Instagram, says another problem is the Western approach to authoritarian governments.
((Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist)) ((Female, English))
“What is wrong here is the tech companies. Because the tech companies allowing Putin, allowing Khomenei, allowing all the dictators to enjoy ‘freedom of speech’ on social media. Why? When the same dictators banned their own people from enjoying the social media?"
((NARRATOR))
As a 7-year old in Iran, Alinejad would watch clerics on TV give misogynistic speeches.
((Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist)) ((Female, English))
Now, the clerics are watching me. I became a journalist to empower millions of women like me to be their own voice.
((NARRATOR))
It’s hard to say exactly how many women Masih empowers with her weekly TV show “Tablet,” but the attempts to silence her indicate that her voice is being heard in Tehran loud and clear.
((Igor Tsikhanenka, VOA News, New York))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline) Igor Tsikhanenka
Embargo DateAugust 11, 2022 21:32 EDT
BylineIgor Tsikhanenka has more from New York
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
