The Humanitarian Law Project of Los Angeles and the World Tamil Coordinating Committee of New York, along with other groups, have filed a lawsuit challenging the Patriot Act.

The lawsuit is brought on behalf of the "lawful humanitarian and political activities" of the Kurdistan Workers Party and Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, which are listed as terrorist organizations by the State Department.

A coalition of legal groups and backers of Sri Lanka's Tamil community have filed a challenge to a section of the USA Patriot Act that makes it illegal to provide "expert advice and assistance" to groups with alleged links to terrorists.

The five organizations and two individuals are seeking an injunction to prevent the government from enforcing the section, arguing it violates constitutional rights of free speech and against self-incrimination.

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and Secretary of State Colin Powell are named defendants in the federal court suit.