Associated Press 29/01/2010

DETROIT - A prominent Islamic singer accused of concealing ties to a terrorist group was duped into believing the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development worked only for needy people, his lawyer said Thursday.

Mohamad Masfaka, also known as the singer Abu Ratib, agreed to remain jailed in Detroit while his case moves through federal court.

Masfaka, 47, is charged with making false statements to the FBI, perjury and attempted fraud in naturalization proceedings. The government alleges he was the Holy Land Foundation’s Detroit-area representative in 1997 and 1998, but failed to mention his employment in a 2002 application for naturalization.

The U.S. government labeled the foundation a terrorist group in 2001, alleging it had provided money and support to Hamas, a Palestinian militant group designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. in 1995.

"He acknowledges he worked for (Holy Land) as a singer," defence lawyer Doraid Elder said outside court Thursday. "It’s not cut and dried to say he was employed. Was he affiliated? Yes. ... He was duped. People who donated money thought it was a noble cause."

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