Attorney General Ashley Moody and 21 other state attorneys general filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia urging the court to deny requests to dismiss a lawsuit brought under the Anti-Terrorism Act by survivors of, and family members of those murdered during, Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack. The lawsuit seeks to hold AJP Educational Foundation Inc.—also known as American Muslims for Palestine—and the National Students for Justice in Palestine accountable for allegedly providing material support to Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization. The brief argues that dismissing these claims before discovery would undermine the ability of victims to receive compensation and prevent organizations like AMP and NSJP from being held accountable for their actions.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “I have been clear since the abhorrent attacks on October 7th that any group found to be providing material support for foreign terrorist organizations will be held accountable for breaking the law. I, along with my colleagues, am proud to support legal efforts to enforce the Anti-Terrorism Act.”
The ATA was specifically designed to provide a civil cause of action for victims of international terrorism, allowing them to seek monetary damages from those who provide material support to terrorist groups. Because some states have limited avenues for victims to seek damages from supporters of terrorism, the ATA remains the most effective tool for plaintiffs seeking compensation for the horrific acts committed against them. In this case, the ATA may be the only legal recourse for the plaintiffs to hold AMP and NSJP accountable for their alleged actions.
The lawsuit alleges that AMP’s material support for Hamas has persisted for decades, originating from its predecessor organizations, including the Holy Land Foundation and the Islamic Association of Palestine, whose board members were convicted of providing material support in the form of millions of dollars to Hamas.
Leaders from HLF and IAP, including AMP’s executive director, formed AMP after those organizations collapsed and dissolved. There is no evidence that AMP, NSJP or their affiliates ceased the nefarious activities of the defunct organizations. The lawsuit alleges that they instead perpetuated this legacy by engaging in propaganda and recruitment for Hamas.
Hamas’s charter explicitly calls for its supporters to engage in communication and propaganda efforts on its behalf to join the battle. In the wake of the October 7 attack, Hamas leadership urged international supporters to rally. NSJP responded by releasing a “Day of Resistance Toolkit” that the lawsuit alleges instructs members on how to continue their support for Hamas.
Attorney General Moody is joined by Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.
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