French comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala is charged with condoning terrorism and is set to go on trial for a Facebook comment about the gunman Amedy Coulibaly.

French comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala is charged with condoning terrorism and is set to go on trial for a Facebook comment about the gunman Amedy Coulibaly who killed a policewoman and four Jewish hostages in a kosher supermarket on 8 January.

Following a massive unity march in Paris to condemn the attacks, Dieudonne wrote on social media "I feel like Charlie Coulibaly," [French: je me sens Charlie Coulibaly], reports BBC.

The statement combined the "Je Suis Charlie" slogan adopted worldwide after the Paris attacks with the name of one of the three gunmen involved in the attacks.

If found guilty, Diedonne could be facing up to seven years in jail and a €5,000 (£3,800; $5,900) fine. He already has several convictions for inciting anti-Semitism.

Dieudonne's comment drew an angry response from many in France. Prime Minister Manuel Valls said that freedom of speech should not be confused with anti-Semitism, racism and Holocaust denial.

Following the Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve orders to investigate Dieudonne's remarks, the comedian posted a reply on his Facebook page, arguing that he was being treated as a public enemy when all he wanted to do was make people laugh.

Dieudonne's arrest drew claims of double standards over free speech from some quarters in France.