In 2011, Anders Breivik killed 77 people in Norway, mainly young people at a youth camp on the island of Utoya. He made his motives pretty clear, saying that he was trying to protect Norway and Western Europe from a Muslim takeover. It is reported that he took inspiration from anti-Muslim bloggers and writers such as Robert Spencer, Pamela Geller and Bat Ye’or.
He was sentenced to 21 years in prison for the atrocity, the maximum allowed in Norway, and a sentence considered by many to be far too short. Despite this, it is likely he will remain in prison for the rest of his life as conditions are in place which do not allow his release unless he is no longer a danger to society.
So what is prison life like for Breivik? Again, perhaps too nice, in the views of many people.
He has access to three rooms, one for fitness, one for studying, and one for living in. He has access to a television, computer and games console.
However despite this, Breivik is now suing the Norwegian state over his alleged inhumane treatment. He claims that not being allowed to interact with other inmates, and only having limited access to visitors, is against the European Convention on Human Rights.
He accuses the government of not respecting “his private and family life […] and his correspondence.”
Authorities claim that this is necessary in order to top him building an extremist network outside of prison.
“There are limits to his contact with the outside world which are of course strict - it pretty much has to be that way - but he is not totally excluded from all contact with other people,” said Marius Emberland, the lawyer for the state.
A hearing will take place later this month at the prison.
