Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Norwegian mass killer begins a second attempt to sue the state for an alleged breach of human rights
Anders Behring Breivik and attorney Marte Lindholm sits, as the Oslo district court conducts his case in a gymnasium at Ringerike prison, in Ringerike, Norway, Monday, January 8, 2024. Breivik, who slayed 77 people in an anti-Islamic bomb and gun rampage in 2011, appeared in court on Monday in a bid to sue the Norwegian state for breaching his human rights. Norway’s worst peacetime killer says his solitary confinement since being jailed in 2012 amounts to inhumane treatment under the European Convention of Human Rights. (Cornelius Poppe/NTB Scanpix via AP)
Latest News
January 8, 2024

Norwegian mass killer begins a second attempt to sue the state for an alleged breach of human rights

STAVANGER, Norway (AP) — Norwegian far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in a bombing and shooting rampage in 2011, launched his second attempt at suing the state on Monday, accusing the Justice Ministry of breaching his human rights.

Breivik, who has changed his name to Fjotolf Hansen, claims that the isolation he’s been placed under since he started serving his prison sentence in 2012 amounts to inhumane punishment under the European Convention on Human Rights. He failed in a similar attempt in 2016 and 2017, when his appeal was ultimately rejected by the European Court of Justice.

The Norwegian state denies Breivik’s claims, arguing that the prison conditions are “significantly better” now than they were during the previous case.

Breivik was transferred two years ago to Ringerike prison where he is held in a two-story complex with a kitchen, dining room and TV room with an Xbox, several armchairs and black and white pictures of the Eiffel Tower on the wall. He also has a fitness room with weights, treadmill and a rowing machine, while three parakeets fly around the complex.

“Breivik, on the other hand, is the same. He is still proud of what he has done. He continues his ideological project,” government attorney Andreas Hjetland told the court. “An extraordinarily dangerous inmate brings with him extraordinary security measures.”

Breivik’s lawyer, Øystein Storrvik, told The Associated Press that Breivik’s mental health has suffered from additional years in solitary confinement since the previous case, leaving him “suicidal” and dependent on antidepressants. Storrvik said that he would argue for an easing of restrictions and more contact with other inmates, and that he believed 12½ years in isolation was “unique” in recent European judicial history.

Storrvik told the court on Monday that Breivik had hoped he could have had some form of “human relations” when he was moved from Skien prison to the spacious complex in Ringerike prison near Oslo in 2022, but that the cells had been “turned into an isolation ward.”

In 2012, Breivik was convicted of mass murder and terrorism for a bombing that killed eight people in the government building in Oslo, and a shooting massacre on Utøya island where he gunned down 69 people at a holiday camp for youth activists from the center-left Labor Party.

Breivik, who described himself during the trial as an anti-Muslim crusader, pleaded not guilty, claiming he was acting in self-defense to protect Norway from multiculturalism.

He received Norway’s most severe sentence at the time: detention for 21 years, with a provision to hold him indefinitely if he is still considered dangerous.

“It is no exaggeration to say that if the court does not put its foot down, then he will be sentenced to life in prison and will never be able to relate to other people,” Storrvik told the court Monday, according to Norwegian news agency NTB.

Breivik entered the makeshift courtroom in the gymnasium of Ringerike prison wearing a dark suit and tie, flanked by Storrvik. He didn’t flash a Nazi salute as he has done in past court appearances.

The government rejects Breivik’s claim that his prison conditions violate human rights.

Some of the restrictions that Breivik has been subject to have been relaxed, said Hjetland, who represents the Justice Ministry in the case, but the conditions are necessary for security.

Breivik has so far shown himself to be unreceptive to rehabilitative work, according to a written statement from Hjetland to the court before the trial, which is scheduled to end on Friday.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

48-hour curfew imposed in sections of the St Mary extended
Latest News, News
48-hour curfew imposed in sections of the St Mary extended
January 23, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The curfew  imposed in sections of the St Mary policing division has been  extended for another 48 hours. The extension took effec...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Justice minister calls on JPs to play a more active role in land administration
Latest News, News
Justice minister calls on JPs to play a more active role in land administration
January 23, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Delroy Chuck, is encouraging justices of the peace (JPs) to play a strengthened ro...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Triple jumper Foreman sets world lead in South Carolina
Latest News, Sports
Triple jumper Foreman sets world lead in South Carolina
BY PAUL A REID Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com 
January 23, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s Shantae Foreman achieved a world and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) leading 14.17m as she set a Cle...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Ardenne Prep/Extension stands firm on fee hike; parents accuse institution of ‘bullyism’
Latest News, News
Ardenne Prep/Extension stands firm on fee hike; parents accuse institution of ‘bullyism’
Vanassa McKenzie, Observer Online reporter, mckenziev@jamaicaobserver.com 
January 23, 2026
The board of Ardenne Preparatory and Extension High isn’t budging on its decision to increase fees for both schools effective this term, despite paren...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Safe Passage releases eight of nine marlin in 62nd Port Antonio tournament
Latest News, Sports
Safe Passage releases eight of nine marlin in 62nd Port Antonio tournament
January 23, 2026
PORTLAND, Jamaica — Safe Passage released five marlin on the second day of the 62nd Port Antonio International Blue Marlin Tournament at Ole Marina, b...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
48-hour curfew extended in sections of Kingston East
Latest News, News
48-hour curfew extended in sections of Kingston East
January 23, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A 48-hour curfew has been extended in sections of the Kingston Eastern policing division. The curfew will continue from 6:00 pm on...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
WATCH: Five-year-old injured in Greenvale, Manchester accident
Latest News, News
WATCH: Five-year-old injured in Greenvale, Manchester accident
January 23, 2026
MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A five-year-old girl has been admitted to hospital in serious condition after she was hit by a car in her community, Greenvale. ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
JPs encouraged to uphold vital role as front-line community leaders
Latest News, News
JPs encouraged to uphold vital role as front-line community leaders
January 23, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Justices of the peace (JPs) have been encouraged to continue their vital role as front-line community leaders, serving as the firs...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct