Three Al Jazeera journalists on trial for terrorism in Cairo called the charge "preposterous" on Monday and asked a judge to release them.

Baher Mohammed, Australian Peter Greste and Canadian-Egyptian Mohammed Fahmy have been on trial for over a month, along with six other Al Jazeera employees. Authorities say they are guilty of terrorism because they provided a media platform for the Muslim Brotherhood, the religious organization of which ousted former President Mohammed Morsi is a member.

The military-led government has deemed the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group. Last week it sentenced more than 500 Morsi supporters to death. Morsi himself is still in jail facing a number of charges, including terrorism.

Human rights groups and several nations including the United States have condemned both the reporters' trial and the mass death sentence, even though experts say the death sentences will probably not be carried out.

Tensions between the new government and Muslim Brotherhood supporters erupted into violence several times last year, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Morsi supporters and fueling tensions that remain extremely high.

Al Jazeera organized a worldwide "Day of Action" on Feb. 27 when journalists around the globe posted photos of themselves online with tape across their mouths, holding signs reading "#FreeAJStaff."

The three journalists spoke up on Monday after judge Mohammed Nagi Shehata allowed them out of the cage where Egyptian defendants are typically held while in a courtroom, according to the Associated Press.

Greste told the judge he had been in the country for just two weeks when he was accused of association with the Muslim Brotherhood. Fahmy called himself a liberal who loves alcohol — and asked the judge if he'd ever known a Muslim terrorist who likes to drink.

Mohammed, Greste and Fahmy were arrested on Dec. 29 in their hotel room in the Egyptian capital after police raided the network's Cairo office several times.

Lawyers and the judge were supposed to watch Al Jazeera footage at Monday's hearing that Egyptian officials say proves the defendants altered their reporting in a way that favored the Muslim Brotherhood and put Egypt's national security in danger — but court officials failed to set up the equipment.

The judge denied requests for bail and adjourned the case until April 10, which will be the fifth time the journalists appear in court.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.