The Supreme Court has upheld a U.S. law that bars "material support" to foreign terrorist organizations, rejecting a free speech challenge from humanitarian aid groups.
The court ruled 6-3 Monday that the government may prohibit all forms of aid to designated terrorist groups, even if the support consists of training and advice about entirely peaceful and legal activities.
Usually voting with the more liberal Justices of the Court, Justice Stephen Breyer took the "unusual step of reading his dissent aloud in the courtroom. Breyer said he rejects the majority's conclusion that the (U.S.) Constitution permits the government to prosecute the plaintiffs criminally for providing instruction and advice about the terror groups' lawful political objectives." Liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor, who is getting more liberal every day, joined the dissent.
"Material support intended even for benign purposes can help a terrorist group in other ways," Chief Justice John Roberts said in his majority opinion.
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