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

Mohamad Masfaka, 47, known as Abu Ratib, agreed to remain jailed in Detroit while is case is heard at federal court.

Masfaka is charged with making false statements to the FBI, perjury and attempted fraud in naturalization proceedings, according to the Associated Press.

The government alleges that Masfaka was the Detroit-area representative for the Holy Land Foundation in 1997 and 1998 but did not mention that in a 2002 naturalization application.

The Holy Land Foundation was labeled a terrorist group by the U.S. government in 2001, and the government alleged that it provided money to Hamas, a Palestinian group labeled a terrorist organization by the government in 1995.

“He acknowledges he worked for (Holy Land) as a singer,” defense lawyer Doraid Elder said outside court, according to the Associated Press. “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.”

Masfaka was arrested while entering the United States at the Ambassador Bridge between Ontario Canada and Detroit. His family resides in a Detroit suburb.