State Security Court adjourns Al-Nabaa's Editor-in-chief trial to July 1

The State Security Court Sunday decided to adjourn the trial of Mamdouh Mahran, the disgraced Editor-in-Chief of "Al-Nabaa" and "Akher Khabar" newspaper, till July 1.

The man faces charges of jeopardizing national unity and violating the social code of ethics by publishing obscene material involving an ax-communicated monk who used to serve at Assiut's Al-Muharraq monastery.

Mahran is also accused of inciting public opinion to scorn the Christian clergy, which led to the disruption of public order.

The court began its proceedings by listening to the accusations read out by the prosecution.

Few minutes later, the defense lawyer and the lawyers representing the Coptic Church engaged in a shouting match, so the court adjourned the session and decided to postpone the trial to give more time to the two layers to study their documents.

Mahran's lawyer stressed that his client respected all Egyptian Copts and that he was keen on national unity in Egypt.

The prosecution accused Mahran, who did not attend, of harming national unity by publishing sensational stories and obscene photos of an ax-communicated monk having sex.