TORONTO (AP) — A man accused of plotting to derail a train in Canada with support from al-Qaida asked Thursday to be represented by a defense attorney willing to use the “holy book” as a reference in his case.

At a previous hearing, Tunisian-born Chiheb Esseghaier declined court-appointed legal representation and rejected the allegations against him. He said he did not recognize the court’s authority, saying Canada’s criminal code is “not a holy book.”