Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik made a Nazi salute in court today as he claimed to be a victim of human rights abuses.
The right-wing extremist who killed 77 people in bomb and gun attacks in 2011 made the offensive gesture as soon as prison guards removed his handcuffs during the hearing.
The 37-year-old is suing the government, alleging it has violated the European Convention on Human Rights by holding him in isolation in Skien prison, about 60 miles south-west of Oslo.
Breivik set off a bomb in Oslo’s government district and then carried out a shooting massacre at the annual summer camp of the left-wing Labour Party’s youth organisation on the island of Utoya.
He is serving 21 years for the attacks. Aside from prison guards and professional staff, Breivik has apparently had just one personal visitor since beginning his sentence.
His mother was allowed into prison and gave him a hug shortly before she died of cancer in 2013. He is kept apart from other inmates.
He has likened his prison conditions to “torture”.
His lawyer, Oeystein Storrvik, told reporters ahead of the trial: “He wants contact with other people.”
He added: “One of his main things to do [in prison] was to study and he has stopped that now, and I feel that is a sign that isolation has been negative to his psychological health,”
Breivik has access to three cells, one for living in, one for studying and a third for physical exercise. He also has a television, a computer without internet access and a games console. He is able to prepare his own food and do his own laundry.
Marius Emberland, lawyer for the state, said: “There are limits to his contacts with the outside world, which are of course strict.”
Citing his contact with prison staff, he added: “But he is not totally excluded from all contact with other people.”
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During his criminal trial four years ago, Breivik entered the court with his own salute, using a clenched fist instead of the outstretched hand that the Nazis used to greet Adolf Hitler. At the time Breivik described himself as a modern-day crusader, fighting to protect Norway and Europe from Muslim immigration.
In letters sent to media from prison, Breivik said he has abandoned his armed struggle and now wants to create a fascist movement while serving his sentence.
The court hearing, which is being held in a gym inside the prison for security reasons, is expected to run until Friday.
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