Updated

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit accusing a Christian organization of defaming a Muslim group in a book that alleged that the Muslim group conducted terrorist training.

Judge Thomas McAvoy says The Muslims of America, which incorporated last year, failed to prove it has the legal standing to sue.

He granted Christian Action Network's motion to dismiss the suit filed last year but rejected its request for sanctions against the Muslim group for allegedly seeking $18 million in damages with no legitimate legal basis.

The suit had accused Christian network founder Martin Mawyer's 2012 book "Twilight in America" of falsely portraying the Muslim group. The Muslim group says its communities in upstate New York and around the U.S. are peaceful.