French comedian on trial for 'defending terrorism'

Controversial French comedian Dieudonne M&#039;Bala M&#039;Bala

published 4 February 2015

The trial of controversial French comedian Dieudonné M'bala M'bala, who is accused of condoning terrorism, has begun today.

M'bala M'bala was arrested after he posted a Facebook status referring to the series of terrorist attacks in France, in which 17 people were killed. The comment, which has since been deleted, read "Je me sens Charlie Coulibaly," or "I feel like Charlie Coulibaly." The statement combines "Je suis Charlie," the unifying message that became a worldwide display of solidarity following the attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine office, with the last name of the gunman who killed four people at a kosher supermarket in the wake of that attack.