CORRECTION-FRANCE-SHOOTING/COMEDIAN Prosecutor requests 30,000 euro fine for French comedian after Charlie Hebdo gag
Record ID:
324455
CORRECTION-FRANCE-SHOOTING/COMEDIAN Prosecutor requests 30,000 euro fine for French comedian after Charlie Hebdo gag
- Title: CORRECTION-FRANCE-SHOOTING/COMEDIAN Prosecutor requests 30,000 euro fine for French comedian after Charlie Hebdo gag
- Date: 4th February 2015
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (FEBRUARY 4, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** FRENCH COMEDIAN DIEUDONNE M'BALA M'BALA EXITING COURT WITH HIS LAWYER SANJAY MIRABEAU AND OTHER UNIDENTIFIED LAWYER/SUPPORTERS CHEERING HIM FRENCH GENDARMES AND CROWD GATHERED OUTSIDE COURTROOM (SOUNDBITE) (French) M'BALA M'BALA SUPPORTER PIERRE PANET SAYING: "I consider that the justice isn't being fair with Mister Dieudonne M'bala M'bala and that is why I support him even though I don't always what he can say and I admit that in this case I didn't quite understand what he wanted to say." M'BALA M'BALA SUPPORTER CHANTING "DIEUDO, DIEUDO" SUPPORTERS STANDING IN STAIRCASE INTERIOR OF COURTHOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (French) M'BALA M'BALA SUPPORTER, KEVIN, SAYING: "I think what Mr Mirabeau, his lawyer, said was great, that he is Charlie but he also is Coulibaly at the same time. He is Charlie because he defends freedom of speech and he represents freedom of speech but that on the other hand he is being hunt down like a terrorist, he is seeking peace. By saying today that he is "Charlie Coulibaly" means that he is in the middle, he doesn't want to take sides and I agree with it." CROWD GATHERED OUTSIDE COURTROOM M'BALA M'BALA WAVING AT SUPPORTERS VARIOUS OF M'BALA M'BALA IN MEDIA SCRUM EXTERIOR OF COURTHOUSE
- Embargoed: 19th February 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA38R6SMPS8R52VKUK43MJ9ICFR
- Story Text: RESENDING WITH CORRECTION: PLEASE NOTE PERSON SPEAKING IN SECOND SOUNDBITE IS CORRECTED TO 'KEVIN' RATHER THAN 'PIERRE PANET'.
A Paris prosecutor asked for a 30,000 euro fine or face jail on Wednesday (February 4) against a French comedian in a case where he is accused of glorifying terrorism after writing on Facebook he felt "Charlie Coulibaly", a word play combining the "I am Charlie" vigil slogan and the name of one of the three gunmen.
Amedy Coulibaly, whose name inspired the joke, killed a policewoman and four customers at a kosher shop last week in Paris, two days after two gunmen shot 12 people at and near the offices of the Charlie Hebdo newspaper.
The case has sparked debate about the limits of free speech after authorities rounded up several people it accused of glorifying terrorism by expressing sympathy with the Charlie Hebdo attackers.
Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala condemned the attacks in court.
Dozens of supporters had gathered outside the courtroom and cheered him as exited surrounded by his lawyer and bodyguards after the 4 hour long hearing.
Critics argued that the crackdown went too far, notably in the case of an eight-year-old boy who was questioned by police in the southern city of Nice last month for expressing sympathy with the attackers.
Others said that France applies a double-standard by allowing Charlie Hebdo to print caricatures of religious figures while cracking down on hate speech.
"I consider that the justice isn't being fair with Mister Dieudonne M'bala M'bala and that is why I support him even though I don't always what he can say and I admit that in this case I didn't quite understand what he wanted to say," said one supporter of the comedian.
French law does not penalise blasphemy but does foresee fines for hate speech and defamation against living or deceased individuals.
"I think what Mr Mirabeau, his lawyer, said was great, that he is Charlie but he also is Coulibaly at the same time. He is Charlie because he defends freedom of speech and he represents freedom of speech but that on the other hand he is being hunt down like a terrorist, he is seeking peace. By saying today that he is "Charlie Coulibaly" means that he is in the middle, he doesn't want to take sides and I agree with it," said another supporter, Kevin, outside the courtroom.
Dieudonne drew international attention last year after former France striker Nicolas Anelka celebrated an English Premier League goal with a salute popularised by him and which critics say had an anti-Semitic connotation.
Local authorities in several towns have banned his shows as a threat to public order.
The court will deliberate on a sentence which is due on March 18. The French comedian faces a up to 7 years in jail and a 100,000 fine. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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