Attorney General Ashley Moody, along with 21 other state attorneys general, has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The brief urges the court to deny requests to dismiss a lawsuit brought under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) by survivors and family members of those affected by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terrorist attack.
The lawsuit seeks to hold AJP Educational Foundation Inc., also known as American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), and the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) accountable for allegedly providing material support to Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization. The brief argues that dismissing these claims before discovery would undermine victims' ability to receive compensation and prevent organizations like AMP and NSJP from being held accountable.
Attorney General Ashley Moody stated, “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 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. As some states have limited avenues for victims seeking damages from supporters of terrorism, the ATA remains a crucial tool. In this case, it may be the only legal recourse for plaintiffs against AMP and NSJP.
The lawsuit alleges that AMP's material support for Hamas has continued over decades through its predecessor organizations such as Holy Land Foundation (HLF) and Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP). Leaders from HLF and IAP formed AMP after their original organizations collapsed due to convictions related to providing millions of dollars in support to Hamas.
There is no evidence that AMP or NSJP ceased these activities; instead, they allegedly continued propaganda and recruitment efforts for Hamas. Following the October 7 attack, Hamas leadership called on international supporters to rally. NSJP responded with a "Day of Resistance Toolkit," which allegedly instructs members on how to continue supporting Hamas.
Joining Attorney General Moody are attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota Oklahoma South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia West Virginia
To read the amicus brief click here