Dieudonne gets 2-month suspended sentence for condoning terrorism

Dieudonne M’bala M’bala has been found guilty of condoning terrorism after Paris attacks two months ago.

The controversial French comedian had posted on Facebook: “I feel like Charlie Coulibaly” just days after the Paris attacks in January.

The post combined the “Je Suis Charlie” slogan with the name of one of the three gunmen involved in the attacks, which included a mass shooting at the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine.

The comedian was given a two-month suspended sentence by the Paris court.

Dieudonne M’bala M’bala posted the comment on Facebook – in French “Je me sens Charlie Coulibaly” – following a huge march in Paris to condemn the attacks, in which 17 people were killed.

“Je Suis Charlie” banners featured heavily amongst marchers and quickly became a widely used slogan in solidarity with those killed.

Dieudonne M’bala M’bala told the court that he condemned the attacks “without any ambiguity”. He said the post was intended to illustrate how he often feels treated like a terrorist.

He had faced up to seven years in prison and a potential €100,000 ($106,000) fine.

Amedy Coulibaly killed a policewoman near a Jewish school on January 8 before going on to murder four Jewish hostages in HyperCacher supermarket.

Dieudonne M’bala M’bala insists he is not anti-Semitic but has a number of convictions for inciting racial hatred.

Several French cities have banned Dieudonne M’bala M’bala from performing.