Court resumes in trial of Egyptian atheist

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CAIRO, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Lawyers for Egyptian atheist Albert Saber have requested reports on what police found in his home the day they arrested him on charges of insulting religion.

His trial resumed Wednesday in Cairo where he is being represented by attorneys from eight human rights organizations, al-Masry al-Youm reported.

Saber, 27, was arrested in September after a mob surrounded his house and accused him of ripping up a Koran and publishing anti-Islamic comments online.

He is charged under a section of the Egyptian penal code that makes it illegal to "promote extremist thoughts with the intention of creating dissent or insulting an Abrahamic religion."

His attorneys want to see reports by police about what they found during a search of his home and want the officers who performed the search to testify in court.

The attorneys also have requested a copy of the forensic report on an attack on Saber while he was in police custody.

In a press conference Tuesday, Saber's mother said he was attacked by other inmates at the jail after they were told by police that Saber had ripped up a Koran.

Saber appeared covered in blood during questioning by prosecutors, his attorneys said.

The trial resumes Nov. 14.