Controversial French comedian Dieudonne was arrested today and will stand trial over a comment suggesting he sympathised with one of the Paris attackers, as France cracks down on those who condone terrorism.
The arrest was one of 54 cases for "condoning terrorism" or "making threats to carry out terrorist acts" opened since Islamist gunmen last week killed 17 people in a three-day shooting spree that targeted the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, police and a Jewish supermarket.
In the midst of a mounting debate on the limits of free speech, prosecutors started a case against the comedian Monday after he posted a Facebook message saying "Tonight, as far as I'm concerned, I feel like Charlie Coulibaly".
The message was a mix of the catch-cry "Je suis Charlie" used in global tributes to the slain magazine journalists and the name of one of the gunmen, Amedy Coulibaly, who shot dead four Jews at the supermarket on Friday and a policewoman the day before.
He was taken in for questioning today morning and a judicial source later said that he would stand trial for condoning terrorism.
