The Humanitarian Law Project, a left-wing special interest group, is contesting part of federal law that prohibits "material support" to terrorists.

The HLP in their lawsuit claims that it is difficult to determine who the terrorists are and whether assisting them by lecturing about peace proposals, teaching them English, or rendering medical treatment equates with supporting terrorists and terrorism.

The Humanitarian Law Project described its support to the groups as "teaching and advocating the use of international law and other nonviolent means to reduce conflict, advance human rights and promote peace."

As the law now stands, suspects providing such services to Hamas, for example, may be sentenced to upwards of 10 years in federal prison.

The USA Patriot Act makes it a crime to provide any form of support, including humanitarian assistance, to groups on the State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations.

The legal dispute arose from advice given by the Humanitarian Law Project to the Kurdistan Workers' Party and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Both groups are listed by the State Department as terrorist organizations.

Recently, Indicted Wall Street hedge fund manager Rajakumara Rajaratnam and his father, J. M. Rajaratnam, knowingly provided financial and other support to the LTTE, and more than 30 victims and survivors of the terrorist group's attacks, according to a report obtained by the National Association of Chiefs of Police.

In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark, family members of those killed and survived due to bombings by the LTTE, alleged that Rajaratnam and the family foundation headed by his father provided millions of dollars in funds used for the deadly and destructive terrorist attacks.

The seven-count complaint, the result of a year-long investigation, was filed under the Alien Tort Claims Act of 1789 which grants non-U.S. citizens access to the U.S. Courts to seek justice for violations of "the law of nations," such as crimes against humanity and terrorism, no matter where they occur.

According to the FBI, LTTE is responsible for the murders of over 4,000 people since 2006. The terrorist organization was the first to use suicide attacks on a widespread basis, a tactic subsequently adopted by al Qaeda and Hamas, among others. Most of the LTTE's funding and weapons procurement came from a network of international front charities and non-governmental organizations controlled by LTTE, the website said.