Maikel Nabil’s trial today on charges of defamation against the army for comments he made online went “smoothly” with judges postponing verdict to Sunday.

“Judges were understanding and gave enough room to the defendants,” Mahmoud Rady, a rights lawyer defending Nabil, told Ahram Online.

Nabil denies administering and writing both the “Maikel Nabil Sanad” blog and the Facebook group of the same name. On the other hand, the defendant has defended the content of the blog, claiming it was not insulting to the army, according to Rady.

Blogger Nabil stands accused of “insulting the army” as well as publishing “false news about the army". Nabil was arrested from his home on 28 March.

The detention of Nabil for his alleged blog posts has caused much concern among rights activist.  Human Rights Watch issued a statement Tuesday urging the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to free Nabil.  

Nabil’s friends and supporters are planning a protest Friday in front of the military court.