Islamic singer sentenced in false statements case

[December 15, 2010]  DETROIT (AP) -- A prominent Islamic singer who pleaded guilty to making false statements during the U.S. immigration process was sentenced to time served and ordered deported.

Syrian native Mohamad Masfaka uses the stage name Abu Ratib. He was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Detroit to one year and one day in prison, with credit for time behind bars.

Defense lawyer Doraid Elder says Masfaka was freed and will leave the U.S. after getting a new Syrian passport. He says the U.S. is losing a productive member of society.

The government says the 47-year-old was the Holy Land Foundation's Detroit-area representative in 1997 and 1998 but didn't mention it in a 2002 application for naturalization.

The U.S. labeled the foundation a terrorist group in 2001, saying it had helped Hamas.

[Associated Press]

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