A military court adjourned the trial of blogger Maikel Nabil until 13 November on Tuesday upon the request of the defendant’s court-appointed lawyer. 

The adjournment was granted so four witnesses, including Osama El-Ghazli Harb, chairman of the Democratic Front Party and journalist Rasha Azab, could attend the court. 

Nabil had refused to appear in front of the military court in the previous session in mid-October but this time was forced to attend by the court.

According to his brother who attended the court session on Tuesday, Nabil repeated his claim that the military court did not have the authority to try him as he is a civilian.  

Nabil had asked his lawyer not to attend the session and was therefore represented by a court-appointed lawyer.

A small group of supporters gathered outside the C8 military prosecution HQ in solidarity with Nabil, who has been on hunger strike for 70 days. 

Nabil is accused of defaming and spreading lies about the armed forces through his blog and was sentenced to 3 years in jail in April 2011.