RT America - The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law that prevents Americans and American human rights groups from supporting known terrorists groups.
In a 6-3 ruling on Monday, the High Court reversed a U.S. appeals court ruling that stated that parts of the law were "unconstitutionally vague."
"The law bars knowingly providing any service, training, expert advice or assistance to any foreign organization designated by the U.S. State Department as terrorist," reported Reuters. "The law, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, does not require any proof the defendant intended to further any act of terrorism or violence by the foreign group." VIDEO BELOW:
The challenge of the law, which was created in 1996 and strengthened by the Patriot Act, came when the Humanitarian Law Project and other groups and individuals wanted to offer support to Turkey's Kurdistan Workers Party and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka. The State Department listed both as terrorist groups.
"The Supreme Court has ruled that human rights advocates, providing training and assistance in the nonviolent resolution of disputes, can be prosecuted as terrorists," said Georgetown University law professor David Cole, who argued the case. "In the name of fighting terrorism, the court has said that the First Amendment permits Congress to make it a crime to work for peace and human rights. That is wrong."
The ruling is considered a win for the Obama administration, as its lawyers say the law is an important tool in the fight against terrorism.
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