Norwegian mass killer seeks parole after over decade in prison

Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian mass murderer responsible for the 2011 bombing and shooting rampage that left 77 people dead, appeared in court on November 19 for a parole hearing. This marks his second attempt for release after spending over ten years in prison.

Breivik, 45, is serving Norway’s maximum sentence of 21 years, but under Norwegian law, he became eligible for parole after serving 10 years of his sentence, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Despite his lengthy isolation since 2012, Breivik has repeatedly claimed that his solitary confinement constitutes inhumane treatment, violating the European Convention on Human Rights. However, his appeals have been dismissed by the courts.

During his court appearance, Breivik, dressed in a black suit, was seen with a “Z” shaved into his hair—a symbol linked to Russian military support in Ukraine—and he held up a political poster.

Norwegian authorities oppose Breivik's parole, citing the “qualified and real” risk that he might commit further violent acts if released. Prosecutor Hulda Olsen Karlsdottir emphasized that Breivik has not renounced his far-right extremist views. Norwegian authorities maintain that while Breivik’s crimes are heinous, he should still receive the same legal rights as any other prisoner, stressing that his treatment must uphold Norway's principles of justice, including the rule of law and freedom of speech.

Breivik was transferred to Ringerike prison two years ago, where he resides in a two-story complex equipped with modern amenities, including a fitness room, Xbox, and three parakeets. His parole hearing is being held in a makeshift courtroom within the prison gym, similar to the one used for a similar hearing in January 2022. A ruling on his parole request has not yet been announced.

In 2012, Breivik was convicted of mass murder and terrorism for killing eight people in a bombing in Oslo and 69 others in a shooting spree at a youth camp on Utøya Island, targeting members of Norway’s center-left Labor Party.

By Vafa Guliyeva