Robert A. Rubinstein, professor of anthropology and international relations in the Maxwell School, recently co-authored the article “‘Material Support’ U.S. anti-terrorism law threatens human rights and academic freedom,” which was published in Anthropology Today in February.
The federal law prohibiting the ‘provision of material support or resources’ to terrorist groups does not require proof that a defendant actually intended to support terrorism and is vague about what counts as material support. Broad application of the law already threatens the ability of researchers to carry out studies vital to understanding conflict situations, abridges academic freedom and human rights, and has the paradoxical consequence of prohibiting studies to understand terrorist organizations or to help transform violent conflicts to constructive political processes.
The article is attached and can be found at
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