OSLO, Norway – Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator of Norway’s deadliest peacetime atrocity, is seeking an end to his years of isolation in prison after killing 77 people in 2011. He is currently serving the country’s maximum prison sentence. His lawyer argues that the isolation has had a severe impact on his mental well-being, leaving him suicidal and dependent on anti-depression medication.
Breivik, a far-right fanatic, was responsible for the deaths of eight people in a car bomb attack in Oslo, followed by the fatal shooting of 69 others at a Labour Party youth camp. Most of the victims were teenagers, making it Norway’s worst peacetime atrocity.
The 44-year-old spends his time in a designated section of Ringerike prison, where he has access to a kitchen, TV room, and bathroom. Despite his isolated conditions, he is allowed to keep three budgerigars as pets. However, lawyers for the justice ministry argue that Breivik must be kept apart due to the ongoing security threat he poses.
The court hearing, set up in the gym of the high-security prison, revealed that Breivik has been isolated for about 12 years and is only in contact with professionals, not other inmates. His lawyer states that this extreme isolation has led to severe psychological distress.
Despite the arguments made by Breivik’s lawyer, the lawyers for the justice ministry believe that control over his contacts with the outside world is necessary to prevent him from inspiring others to commit violent acts. Breivik’s sentence can be extended for as long as he is deemed a threat, with the judge’s verdict expected to be issued in the coming weeks.
Despite the ongoing legal battle over his isolation conditions, Breivik’s past actions continue to haunt Norway, with his influence cited by other perpetrators of violent acts, such as the Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand in 2019.