The United States Supreme Court Monday upheld a federal anti-terrorism law that banned giving legal advice to organizations designated by the State Department as terrorist groups saying that it amounts to "material support" for their violent activities.
By a 6-3 ruling, the highest court in the country said the ban on providing training, service, and personnel and giving advice to terrorist groups was not unconstitutional and it was within government authority.
With Chief Justice John G. Roberts joining the majority, the court upheld a law that makes it a crime for lawyers to provide legal training and help to the designated terrorist groups.
The ruling is a blow to Sri Lanka's Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Turkey's PKK. Both groups seek to establish independent states within their countries and involve in violent activities.
The court disagreeing to the plaintiffs' argument that their assistance to LTTE is for teaching international law and consulting on UN matters said such assistance would free up other resources within the organization that may be used for violent activities.
"It also helps lend legitimacy to foreign terrorist groups," Chief Justice John Roberts said.
The Supreme Court ruling ended a 12-year complicated legal battle brought about by two individuals and six organizations on behalf of the LTTE.
The State Department designated the LTTE as a terrorist group in 1997.
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