Declaration implored Somalis to withold support, material and moral, to the Islamist insurgents which the U.S. State Department has branded a terrorist group.
Three men charged with funneling money to the Somalia-based terrorist group al-Shabab are due in court this morning while one of the accused, an imam, publicly condemned al-Shabab earlier this year.
Federal prosecutors say Mohamed Mohamud conspired to send thousands of dollars to al-Shabab and kill in a foreign country. But in January, Mohamud, also known as Maxamed Khadar, endorsed a declaration urging Somalis not to support al-Shabab and to keep tabs on their children. At least 20 young men have left the Midwest for Somalia to fight with al-Shabab. Mohamud's attorney Mahir Sherif says his client's action undercuts the government's case and jeopardizes the imam's life.
"I had a conversation with him the other day where he said 'look if I end up in Somalia, al-Shabab would be the first person to behead m'e, because he's taken a position, an official position, a public position against them," Sherif said.
Federal prosecutors declined to comment.
