An Egyptian Copt on trial for blasphemy on Wednesday denied the accusations, saying he was asked about his faith during questioning, in a case that has raised concerns of freedom of expression. Albert Saber, 27, is accused of blasphemy, insulting religions and inciting sectarianism through his Internet postings including posting clips from an anti-Islam video that sparked violent protests worldwide, an AFP reporter said. Saber was arrested at his home in Cairo earlier this month and has been held in preventative detention since. Authorities also broke into his home while he was in detention. “I didn’t do any of the things they accuse me of doing,” Saber, dressed in white prison clothes, his head shaved, told AFP from the cage. “Ninety percent of my friends are Muslim and we eat and drink together. I don’t hate any religion,” he said. “The investigation was a religious one … I was asked about my faith in the Quran and about my religion,” he said. After a brief hearing on the first day of his trial, the judge adjourned the proceedings to October 17. Saber faces up to five years behind bars in a case that has sparked condemnation from human rights groups and raised concerns over freedom of expression under Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, the first president after an uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak.
