Norwegian mass murderer admitted to university
July 17, 2015
The Norweigian mass murderer who killed dozens in a rampage he deemed a fight against a "Muslim invasion" has been offered a place in a political science course at the University of Oslo, although he is unlikely to gain a degree.
According to Norwegian law, convicts have the right to higher education if they meet the university's admission requirements. The right is a part of Norway's rehabilitation-focused justice system.
Breivik previously applied for admission to the university in 2013, but was rejected for not meeting the requirements.
"He then didn't meet the admission requirements. Now his grades live up to what is expected," said university spokesperson Marina Tofting, according to AP news agency.
However, families of the victims who died in Breivik's onslaught said that news of his acceptance at the University of Oslo "hurts."
"It hurts that he is able to study, but it's like that in Norway," said Lisbeth Kristine Roeyneland, who heads a support group for the victims' families, according to AFP news agency.
"But whether he reads novels or political science books doesn't matter to us as long as he remains behind bars," she noted.
Breivik, who is currently in prison in solitary confinement and does not have permission to access the Internet, will likely not gain a degree since five out of the nine courses needed to graduate require attendance.
The 36-year-old mass murderer was sentenced to 21 years in prison in 2012 for killing eight people at a government building in Oslo and 69 others - mostly teenagers - at a Labor Party youth camp on the island of Utoya.
ls/gsw (AFP, AP, dpa)