January 26, 2004
Part of Patriot act ruled unconstitutional.
A federal judge in Los Angeles has declared part of the so-called Patriot Act unconstitutional. A provision of that act bans giving 'expert advice or assistance' to any foreign group that the US government labels a terrorist organization. In a ruling made public today, US District Judge Audrey Collins said that the wording of this ban is unconstitutionally vague.
The case before the court involved five groups and two U.S. citizens seeking to provide support for lawful, nonviolent activities on behalf of Kurdish refugees in Turkey.
The Humanitarian Law Project said the plaintiffs were threatened with 15 years in prison if they advised groups on seeking a peaceful resolution of the Kurds' campaign for self-determination in Turkey.
The judge's ruling said the law, as written, does not differentiate between impermissible advice on violence and encouraging the use of peaceful, nonviolent means to achieve goals.
"The USA Patriot Act places no limitation on the type of expert advice and assistance which is prohibited and instead bans the provision of all expert advice and assistance regardless of its nature," the judge said.
Via AP.
Posted by Magpie at January 26, 2004 07:09 PM | TrackBack