Amid Speech Crackdown, French Comedian Found Guilty for Facebook Post

Dieudonne, the controversial French comic pictured here in 2007, was found guilty of 'condoning terrorism' for a Facebook post that mocked the Charlie Hebdo attack. (Photo: Alexandre Hervaud/cc/flickr)

Amid Speech Crackdown, French Comedian Found Guilty for Facebook Post

Dieudonné was one of dozens arrested in the wake of Charlie Hebdo attack

The controversial french comedian Dieudonne on Tuesday was found guilty of "condoning terrorism" in a satirical post made to his Facebook page, which authorities said expressed sympathy for terrorists associated with the January 7 attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine.

The Paris court sentenced Dieudonne M'bala M'bala to a suspended sentence of two months in jail.

Dieudonne was one of dozens arrested in the wake of the attack as part of a swift crackdown by the French government on "hate speech, anti-Semitism and glorifying terrorism."

The infamous comedian was taken into custody for writing: "Tonight, as far as I'm concerned, I feel like Charlie Coulibaly"--merging the 'free speech' rallying cry "Je suis Charlie and Amedy Coulibaly, the gunman who killed four hostages at a kosher market in a related attack.

AFP reports that during the trial the prosecutor charged Dieudonne with presenting "in a favorable light the acts committed by Amedy Coulibaly." However, Dieudonne argued that he "condemned the attacks without any restraint and without any ambiguity."

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