[JURIST] A nephew of former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat [CNN profile] who is now an Egyptian opposition MP associated with the Ahrar party [Wikipedia backgrounder] appeared before an Egyptian military court Wednesday on charges of making defamatory remarks regarding the 1981 assassination of his uncle. Last week, Talaat Sadat remarked that senior military officials and the president's bodyguards were involved in the 1981 slaying. Several human rights organizations have decried [AFP report] a decision by Parliament Speaker Fathi Sorour [offical website] to strip Sadat of his parliamentary immunity in the case, since Sorour belongs to the majority National Democratic Party that Sadat has recently and publicly criticized. Questions have also been raised as to why the military is handling the prosecution rather than the public prosecutor.

According to Sadat, the tribunal, which is closed to the public, has been adjourned until Sunday while he prepares his defense and the court watches the televised comments that prompted the case. Sadat pleaded not guilty to the charges and faces up to three years' imprisonment. Reuters has more.