ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Two northern Virginia men have separately faced a federal judge in their first court appearance since being arrested Friday on terrorism-related charges.
Joseph Hassan Farrokh, 28, of Woodbridge, is accused of attempting to travel to Syria to join ISIS. His brief court appearance was followed by Mahmoud Elhassan, 25, also of Woodbridge, who officials say drove Farrokh to the airport in Richmond.
Both men are charged under the federal law that prohibits support to a foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum 20 years in prison.
“They would come and pray together with us and it’s very shocking. I never imagined these brothers would do something like this,” said Ashmeer Tahir, who says he prayed regularly with both men at the Badr Community Center in Dumfries. “They were good community members.”
Tahir, other members of the Badr community and family members of the two men turned out at the court hearing to show their support for the men.
Two of Elhassan’s sisters wept loudly as the brief proceeding concluded.
Elhassan’s defense lawyer is eager to point to differences in the charges the two men face. While Farrokh is specifically accused of attempting to provide support to a foreign terrorist organization, Elhassan is charged with aiding and abetting that attempt.
“My client is innocent of those charges. The issue is the way that the government goes about these cases. They had three informants in this case who were looking for people that they could get in trouble,” said Attorney Ashraf Nubani.
A bond hearing will be held for Farrokh on Thursday, Jan. 21.
Elhassan’s bond hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 26.
The hearings will determine whether the two men remain behind bars.
Both men face a preliminary hearing on the terrorism charges Feb. 1 at U.S. District Court in Alexandria.
