Supreme Court Upholds Law Prohibiting Aid to Terrorist Groups

A federal law banning “material support” to foreign terrorist groups has been upheld by the Supreme Court, turning away a challenge from relief charities that said the law violates free speech, writes the Associated Press.

In a 6-3 ruling today, the court said the government can forbid all forms of aid to groups designated as terrorist outfits, even if that aid entails guidance about nonviolent and legal activities. Such support, wrote Chief Justice John Roberts in the majority opinion, “frees up other resources within the organization that may be put to violent ends.” Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Sonia Sotomayor dissented.

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