Norway Killer Breivik Complains About ‘Inhumane’ Conditions In Prison, Says Cell Has No View And Pen Cramps His Hand

Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator of the Norway massacre that killed 77 people July 22, 2011, has complained that he is being held in “inhumane” conditions because the prison authorities wouldn’t let him use normal pens and his cell is too cold.

Breivik, who is serving his 21-year sentence for his self-confessed crimes, wrote a complaint that he was being held in a section with particularly high security and that he was being denied freedom of expression, his lawyer Tord Jordet was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

Breivik is being held in almost complete isolation at the Ila prison outside Oslo. His cell includes three sections, one to sleep and one for study and a third for exercise — each measuring 8 sq m (86 sq ft), the BBC has reported.

The 27-page-long complaint that Breivik wrote to the prison authorities was leaked to Norway’s VG newspaper which Jordet confirmed to news media as genuine.

Breivik said he wanted to write books in prison but the soft and bendable “stab-resistant” safety pen, which cannot be used as a weapon, cramps his hand. He described the condition in the prison "an almost indescribable manifestation of sadism.”

The letter has him whining that his cell is too cold that he is being forced to wear three layers of clothing. He is also forced to rush his morning shave and brushing of teeth.

The handcuffs, which are used only when he is moved around the prison, “are too sharp” and cut his wrist, he says.

Additionally, he has a problem with light and television switches being outside the cell, so he has to ask for help to change the channel or sleep. The cell, he says, is poorly decorated and has no view.

"I highly doubt that there are worse detention facilities in Norway," he writes.

The prison officials declined to comment on the letter which is still under consideration.

Ellen Bjercke, a spokeswoman for the Ila prison, told the AP that Breivik was given an electric typewriter Friday but added that it was not connected to his letter of complaint.