Anders Behring Breivik, the right-wing extremist and neo-Nazi terrorist responsible for the 2011 bomb and gun rampage in Norway, has filed a second lawsuit against the Norwegian state. Breivik, who is currently serving a 21-year sentence, claims that his solitary confinement violates his human rights. This is the second complaint he has made to the European Court of Human Rights since 2012.
Breivik, also known as Fjotolf Hansen, carried out a heinous act in 2011 when he mercilessly murdered 77 people, including 69 boys and girls at a summer camp on the island of Utøya, following a bomb attack in Oslo.
Born and raised in Oslo, Breivik’s troubled past includes various legal issues, including his first arrest at the age of 16. He later joined a gun club and expressed strong opposition to Islam and Feminism in his manifesto. Psychiatric evaluations during his trial resulted in conflicting diagnoses of paranoid schizophrenia and narcissistic personality disorder.
Breivik’s legal battles began in 2016 when he sued the Norwegian Correctional Service for violating his human rights. However, the case was dismissed. In 2017, he filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights, which was also rejected.
Currently, Breivik is housed in a two-story complex with several amenities, including a kitchen, a dining room, a TV room, and a fitness room. However, his lawyer claims that he is unable to establish meaningful relationships with anyone from the outside world and is battling suicidal thoughts.
The Norwegian justice ministry argues that Breivik’s continued isolation is necessary due to the security threat he poses. They claim that his interactions with guards, health professionals, and two inmates every other week constitute sufficient human contact.
Breivik’s isolation is justified by concerns about inspiring others to commit violent acts, particularly from far-right circles. Brenton Tarrant, who carried out the Christchurch mosque shootings in 2019, cited Breivik as an inspiration.
Despite becoming eligible for parole in 2022, Breivik’s request was denied by the court. Knut Mellingsaeter Soerensen, an associate professor, has raised concerns about the prolonged isolation and the challenge of determining when to ease security measures for someone with a history of terrorist intentions.
The upcoming hearing for Breivik’s lawsuit will take place in the prison’s gymnasium, near the island of Utøya, where the massacre occurred in 2011.
It remains to be seen how the European Court of Human Rights will adjudicate on Breivik’s complaint.
