Islamic singer linked to terrorist group agrees to stay jailed in Detroit after border arrest

Islamic singer agrees to remain jailed in Michigan

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,” defense 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.”

The government said in a court document that it has video of Masfaka praising Hamas in songs at foundation fundraisers. The dates and locations are not listed.

“In the name of God the Most Great, smash those filthy ones. With the knife and the dagger and with your stones and the ax,” Masfaka sang, according to the FBI.

Elder said he doesn’t agree with the song, but “this is America” and Masfaka has free-speech rights. Masfaka also has performed in Europe and the Middle East.

“He’s very, very popular,” Elder said.

Masfaka was arrested last week while entering the United States at the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Ontario, Canada. His wife and five children live in Farmington Hills, a Detroit suburb, although he has been outside the U.S. for more than a year. Elder said the native of Syria knew he would be arrested.

In 2008, a federal jury in Texas convicted five Holy Land Foundation employees of providing support to Hamas. Mufid Abdelquader, who played with Masfaka at fundraising events, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Jebson said.