Norwegian court denies parole to mass killer Anders Behring Breivik
- Anders Behring Breivik, a mass murderer, had his second parole application denied by a Norwegian court.
- The court emphasized the need for continued detention in the interest of public safety.
- The decision highlights Norway's commitment to uphold the rule of law and equal rights for all prisoners.
In December 2024, a Norwegian court rejected Anders Behring Breivik's second application for parole. The Ringerike, Asker and Bærum district court had held a hearing for Breivik, who is serving a 21-year sentence for committing mass murder and terrorism in 2011. In this attack, he orchestrated a bombing that claimed eight lives and a shooting on Utøya island that resulted in 69 fatalities, primarily targeting youth activists affiliated with the center-left Labor Party. Breivik, now 45, has been in prison since 2012 and is held in isolation, arguing that his treatment violates human rights conventions. However, the court concluded that his release posed a continued risk to public safety despite acknowledging his participation in rehabilitative programs, which have yet to demonstrate significant progress. Breivik's attempts to argue against his treatment as inhumane have been consistently rejected by the courts, which maintain that he is entitled to the same rights as any other prisoner despite the nature of his crimes. The court's decision reflects Norway's legal principles regarding civil rights and the rule of law, highlighting the complexities surrounding the justice system in dealing with heinous crimes while also respecting the rights of the accused.