Anders Breivik's Lawsuit for Solitary Confinement Rejected by Court

Anders Breivik, a neo-Nazi who committed a mass shooting in Norway in 2011, has been unsuccessful in his attempt to improve his prison conditions. Breivik had sued the Norwegian authorities, claiming that his isolation in prison was inhumane and that he was suicidal. However, the court ruled against him, stating that his sentencing terms did not violate his human rights. Breivik's lawyer expressed his client's disappointment with the outcome and confirmed that they would appeal the decision. Since committing the horrific act, Breivik has been kept in isolation in prison. He is currently serving a 21-year sentence, which is the maximum penalty in Norway, but it can be extended if he is considered a continued threat. Breivik's lawyers argued that he has been living in a completely isolated state and no longer wishes to be alive. They requested that the court lift the restrictions on his correspondence with the outside world. However, the judges disagreed and maintained that these limitations were reasonable because Breivik still posed a danger to society. The court mentioned that Breivik has considerable freedom and access to various services in his everyday life at the facility, including studying and working on his political projects. His lawyer emphasized that the easing of his conditions is essential for Breivik's well-being in prison. Although Breivik tearfully expressed remorse during his testimony in January and claimed to be suicidal, a psychologist assessed him the next day and determined that he was not depressed and presented a low risk of suicide. Currently housed in a dedicated section of Ringerike prison, situated near the lake surrounding Utoeya, Breivik has access to facilities such as a training room, kitchen, TV room, and bathroom. The majority of his victims were teenagers associated with the Norwegian Labour Party's youth wing, making the attacks Norway's most devastating peacetime atrocity. Breivik has previously contested the terms of his sentence, briefly winning part of his human rights case against the Norwegian state in 2016, only for it to be overturned the following year. In 2022, he also applied for parole, but the court denied his request, deeming him unchanged and still a risk to society.