Posts Tagged ‘Justice Department’
Oslo District Court bans public broadcast of conservative expert witnesses
In what appears to be a political decision, the Oslo District Court (Tingrett) has announced that it will only permit the public broadcast of a selection of the expert witnesses in the trial against Anders Behring Breivik. While the most well known expert witnessses with a left-wing ideology will be allowed to be broadcast on national television, equivalent expert witnesses representing the political right, such as the well known blogger Fjordman, will not be permitted to be broadcast.
The decision does not come as a suprise. So far during the trial, the court has not appeared concerned about being perceived as biased. For example, the court denied Breivik’s testimony to be broadcast while at the same time allowing the broadcast of the prosecutors’ accusations against him. The court has also placed little emphasis on the tradition common in democracies in which regular citizens can follow trials in order to check the integrity of the court.
Both the Justice Department and the Supreme Court were victims of the bomb attack in Oslo. The 900kg bomb was placed right outside the Justice Department and the offices were completely destroyed by the explosion. Four members of staff were killed on 7/22, three in Oslo and one while attending the Labor Youth camp at Utøya.
Breivik has stated in court that he does not recognize the Oslo District Court as legitimate because he believes the court receives its authority from the Labor Party.
Google translation [edited for clarity]:
Fear judges censor the controversial witnesses
The right-wing journalist Ole Jørgen Anfindsen considering refusing to testify after the judges in terror trial has determined that his testimony should not be broadcast. “They create an A-and B-layers based on ideology,” he said.
“I have come into a situation where I seriously doubt I’m willing to stand as a witness,” said he NRK.no after it became known that the judges will not allow his testimony in the trial of Anders Breivik Behring broadcast.
Also Arne Tumyr, head of the organization Stop the Islamization of Norway, reacts strongly to news that his testimony does not seem to be on TV anyway.
“As it now stands, there is a severe censorship, there is a legal assault, it is to withhold information from the public,” he said.
Viewers will see fewer testimony
Friday came Oslo District Court with a new decision about which witnesses can be broadcast and not. Since the court has previously determined that Breivik’s comments on the testimony can not be broadcast, the judges decided that neither the testimony of the officers or observers from Dikemark could be sent on TV.
The rationale was that it would create a distorted impression in the media if the statements were sent to the witnesses on television, while Breivik’s statements were not shown….
But when they lists the witnesses who can be broadcast (see fact box to the right in case), several defense witnesses voter omitted.
Tumyr and Anfindsen is far from the only one.
According to the information now is available on the website of the Oslo District Court , should not the testimony of Peder Jensen Nøstvold [Fjordman] broadcast. The same applies to Islamist Mullah Krekar and Mohyeldeen Muhammad, the Islam critical writer Bruce Bawer, a former Norwegian Defense League leader Ronny Alte, filmmaker Walid al-Kubaisi, neo-Nazis Tore Tvedt and peace researcher Johan Galtung.
NRK has been in contact with the Oslo City Court, which currently can not provide a clear answer as to why some of the witnesses can be broadcast, while the witnesses in the same category can not….
According to Ole Jørgen Anfindsen bears the character of the court’s decision that the judges have separated the witnesses for ideology.
“They divide the witnesses into the A-team and B team,” said he NRK.no.
Informaticians HonestThinking runs the website and in the book “Suicide paradigm”, he writes that immigration and racial mixing will take the life of the western civilization. After 22 in July he told NRK.no that he wants to downplay the rhetoric of fear to inspire potential rightwing terrorists.
Anfindsen saw it as a personal burden to be called as a witness by the defense to Breivik. Nevertheless, he told the defenders that he wants his testimony to be broadcast on television. For him, it is important that the public can view the entire testimony – without being edited by others.
“Broadcast of witness statements ensure transparency, and also help to prevent misunderstandings that might otherwise arise,” says Anfindsen.
Original article: Frykter dommerne sensurerer kontroversielle vitner
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Court decision [in Norwegian - opens pdf]
Related article: “Incomprehensible if no Islam critics are broadcast” (“Uforståelig om ingen islamkritikere blir kringkastet”)
Related post: Appeal of decision not to allow public broadcast of Breivik testimony rejected
Related post: Oslo District Court denies broadcast of Breivik’s testimony to the public
Related post: Leadership of the Norwegian Justice Department resigns
Leadership of the Norwegian Justice Department resigns
The entire leadership of the Justice Department has sought to be released from their duties, reports VG. Both Head of Department, Morten Ruud, and Assistant Head of Department, Hans Olav Østgaard, have applied to be honorably released from their duties, current Justice Minster Grete Faremo (Labor) confirmed to VG.
A total of four top leaders of the Norwegian Justice sector have now been replaced since the 7/22 attacks. Previous Justice Minister, Knut Storberget (Labor), stepped down in November 2011 following death threats, and the head of the PST (Police Security Service), Janne Kristiansen, was forced to resign in January of this year.
On 7/22, the 900kg bomb was placed immediately outside the building housing the Justice Department and the offices were completely destroyed in the explosion. Four Justice Department staff members were killed, three in the governmental offices and one attending the Labor Youth Organization (AUF) camp at Utøya.
Former Justice Minister, Knut Storberget (Labor), was controversial due to his attempts to ban blasphemy and introduce hijab into the Norwegian police force.
Google translation:
The entire top leadership of the Justice Department steps down
04/27/2012
(VG Nett) The entire top leadership of the Justice Ministry has sought dismissal. Also assistant secretary Hans Olav Ostgaard steps down before the summer.
This Justice Minister Grete Faremo (Labor) confirms to VG this afternoon….
Original article: Hele toppledelsen i Justisdepartement går av
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Related post: Head of PST steps down, PST staff do not want another political appointment
Related post: March phone threats were made to the Justice Department
Lippestad: Law changes for Breivik would be a democratic problem and a threat to justice
TV2 has gained access to a confidential hearing note that reveals that the Labor coalition government is trying to rush through law changes to the psychiatric healthcare law (psykisk helsevernloven) that seem tailor suited for Anders Behring Breivik and that would make it legal for Norwegian authorities to construct a prison-like psychiatric hospital for a single person. According to the document, the government has issued a much shorter deadline for the hearing on the law proposal than normal.
According to TV2, in addition to what has been previously reported, the proposed law changes would make it possible for the authorities to hold a patient in a high-security mental hospital for as long as the police considered there to be “particularly high risk for attacks against the patient.” No specific threat would need to be present; it would be sufficient that the police be of the opinion that the patient was at risk. The new regulations would, therefore, in reality give Norwegian authorities the power to place an individual, for example a political prisoner, in solitary confinement for life without this being specifically sanctioned by a court.
“What one in reality is doing here is to introduce life-imprisonment in Norway,” Anders Behring Breivik’s lawyer Geir Lippestad told TV2. Lippestad says that, in his opinion, the proposed law changes appear to have been tailor suited for a single person (Breivik), and that the proposed law changes should be thoroughly discussed.
“I question how this [the law proposal] has been evaluated, and that one is using hearing deadlines that are much shorter than is normal,” Lippestad explains. “If these rules are proposed on the background of this case, and with a wish to punish this person [Breivik] in particular, then it is both a democratic problem and a threat to justice,” Lippestad said.
The Labor coalition government appears increasingly desperate to silence Breivik, who has explained that he represents the Norwegian resistance movement. Before the current law proposal was made, Dagbladet reported that the Justice Department was considering law changes that would make it illegal for Breivik to publish his book. The Justice Department also denied a BBC journalist access to Ila Prison to interview Breivik. In addition, the Attorney General has expressed a desire to introduce greater press restrictions.
Google translation:
How to keep Breivik locked up for life
21.03.2012
The government hastily introduces a new law that will keep Anders Behring Breivik locked up for life. It is in the interests of his own safety.
When TV 2 met the Minister of Justice Grete Faremo some time ago, she was clear about what the government had to do as she asked herself the question:
“How can we be certain that we do not meet the offender again?”
The answer to that is now available as a consultation document from the Health – and care ministry, which TV 2 has access to.
This paper is a proposal for ending the law on mental health care, and describes a high-security treatment institution with communication control, wiretapping, strip searches, detector scanning of all that goes in and out, glass wall between Breivik and visitors….
[Psychiatrist Thor Kvakkestad] believes the government by introducing the law in this way violates the duty to report, and defendant case to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
“This is so make serious changes to current legislation, to be able to detention sick people on the basis that the police have a feeling that the person is exposed to a threat from the public,” he said to TV 2
“These are changes that require an open debate in society, the consequences of it and whether it is something we should implement in Norway must be studied thoroughly,” he adds….
Original article: Slik skal Breivik holdes innesperret resten av livet
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Google translation:
Thinks the government sneak introduce life imprisonment
22.03.2012
Anders Behring Breivik defender Geir Lippestad believe the government is trying to impose life imprisonment in Norway.
TV 2 could reveal Wednesday that the government hastily introduced a new law that will keep Anders Breivik Behring locked up for life.
Now responds Breivik defender, Geir Lippestad.
“What we do here in practice, is to impose a sentence of life imprisonment in Norway,” says Breivik defender, Geir Lippestad, to TV 2….
He said the situation must be discussed thoroughly before rules are adopted.
“I really question how this is assessed, and that you are also using the consultation deadlines are much shorter than normal,” says Lippestad….
Original article: Mener regjeringen snikinnfører livstidsstraff
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Related post: Justice Department considers law change that will make Breivik book illegal
Related post: Norwegian Justice Department blocks Breivik interview with BBC
Related post: Norway’s Attorney General expresses desire to introduce greater press restrictions
Breivik has made new interview agreement, journalist waiting for clearance
Anders Behring Breivik has again agreed to be interviewed by a foreign journalist, reports NRK. This time Ila Prison has sent a request to police in the home country of the journalist to conduct a background check of the journalist in question. When Breivik accepted to be interviewd by the BBC, the Justice Department blocked the interview by not granting the journalist access to the prison.
The identity of the journalist who is awaiting approval has not been made public.
Google translation:
Checking foreign journalist for Breivik interview
03.20.2012
Anders Breivik Behring has again agreed to be interviewed by a foreign journalist. Ila Prison is now in the process of a background check of the relevant journalist.
Terrorist Anders Behring Breivik (33) has previously stated that he wants to give an exclusive interview to a foreign media before the court case starts on 16 April.
Several media players have taken an interest, after the BBC recently pulled its request. Now Breivik has picked out one of the applicants that he is willing to talk to within the walls of Ila prison and detention institution.
“We have built an application for approval. After that, I know there is talk of a foreign person who wants to enter to interview Breivik,” says prison director Knut Bjarkeid to NRK.
The prison has now requested foreign police to conduct a background check on that particular journalist….
Original article: Sjekkar utanlandsk journalist for Breivik-intervju
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Related post: Norwegian Justice Department blocks Breivik interview with BBC
Norwegian government considers strict regulations of chemicals to prevent further bomb attacks
The Justice Department believes Norway needs particularly strict regulations on the purchase of chemicals and substances that can be used to make bombs and explosives, reports Fædrelandsvennen.
According to the paper new, stricter regulations went into effect on November 17th of last year preventing the sale of fertilizer with a high concentration of ammonium nitrate to private individuals. The Justice Department, however, believes it may be necessary to introduce even stricter regulations in Norway than in the EU, writes Fædrelandsvennen.
Fædrelandsvennen also reports that the department has established two workgroups which will evaluate stricter regulations on access to chemicals such as those used by Anders Behring Breivik in the bomb that destroyed the Justice Department and other governmental offices in downtown Oslo. One workgroup will evaluate current regulations of access to ammonium nitrate and will hand in its recommendation on June 15th. The other workgroup will be evaluating a new proposal from the EU regarding the regulation of fourteen chemicals that can be used for making bombs. Breivik obtained several of these chemicals. The group will submit its recommendation by October 1st.
The Justice Department was directly hit by the Oslo explosion; the offices were destroyed and four members of staff died on 7/22. Former Justice Minister, Knut Storberget, stepped down in November last year after receiving death threats from a group called “The Organization for a Free Norway” (Organisasjonen Fritt Norge). As a result of the 7/22 attacks, the Justice Department was formally renamed the Justice and Preparedness Department to reflect the new political situation in Norway.
Google translation:
Norway may have stricter rules for the bomb chemicals
09.mar.2012
Two teams will arrive at a uniquely Norwegian and extra strict regulations for the purchase of chemicals and substances that can be used to make explosives and bombs.
The Justice and Preparedness Ministry has asked the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning to set up two working groups, newspaper Bergens Tidende.
One group will consider regulations for fertilizer ingredient ammonium nitrate, and the work will be completed 15 June. The mandate states that the ammonium nitrate should not be “in the wrong hands and be used in harmful activities….”
The other group will consider the EU’s proposed restrictions on access to 14 chemicals that can be used for the manufacture of homemade bombs. Several of the chemicals Anders Behring Breivik acquired, are among these, including those he imported from Poland. This group will submit its report by 1 October.
Original article: Norge kan få strengere regler for bombekjemikalier
Police union leader warns Justice Minister about new PST head appointment
Verdens Gang (VG) reports that police union leader, Lasse Roen, who represents the Police Security Service (PST) staff, issued a stark warning to Justice Minister, Grete Faremo (Labor), not to recruit the new head of PST in the same manner as her predecessor, Knut Storberget, hired Janne Kristiansen.
Storberget (Labor), who was controversial because of his attempts to make blasphemy illegal and to introduce the use of the hijab to the Norwegian police force, and who recently stepped down after receiving death threats, had hand picked Kristiansen for the job. The appointment was by many regarded as a political one.
Arne Johannessen, national head of the Norwegian Police Union (Politiets Fellesforbund), which represents more than 10,000 Norwegian police officers, recently strongly criticized how the previous head of the PST was hired, stating that Storberget steered around several good applicants with strong professsional integrity and relevant police experience, when he picked Janne Kristiansen. In an interview with VG, Johannesen said that to hire a new PST chief with little leader experience and no police-professional background is like risk-sport.
Now the union leader representing PST employees made it clear that PST workers do not want Justice Minister Faremo to recruit a new boss by calling around. “In the last round, many sat and waited for a phone call. Now we want potential applicants to actually apply [for the job] and not [just] wait for a call from the Justice Minister to be encouraged to apply,” Roen said to VG.
Roen also said to VG that the police officers at the PST see a need for several changes in the application process, but that they have not been heard. He said the most important thing is that the application process is made better. “If the applicants openly stand forward on [the] application list, they also contribute to a more fair and open process now. The last time a new PST-chief was to be hired, uncertainty was created as to whether the process was open and genuine,” said Roen to VG.
Roen has also previously stated to VG that the PST staff do not want another political appointement.
Janne Kristiansen has been investigated by the Special Unit of the Police Force (Internal Affairs) after her apparent slip of the tongue during a parliamentary hearing in which she accidentally revealed that Norway’s Military Intelligence Service has operative agents in Pakistan, but the case has now been closed.
Google translation [edited for clarity]:
PST employees warns Faremo against telephone recruitment
Thursday Minister of Justice Grete Faremo announced the position as head of the Police Security Service. Faremo places more demands to the new pst boss, among other things, that he should be able to handle the media in a confident manner and that the person must have completed a law degree or other relevant education.
Do not need to have a legal degree
Earlier Thursday Progress Party leader of the Justice Committee [Per Sandberg] made critical remarks regarding Faremo not to a greater extent encourages people with practical law enforcement or military backgrounds to apply for the prestigious job. He has the support of the PST staff.
- To name a specific law degree in the announcement text can provide signals that it is what is desired. We had wanted a broader announcement, where the Ministry also took more consideration to potential applicants with other backgrounds.
- I think there are people other than lawyers who can fill that position, says Lasse Roen….
Original article: PST-ansatte advarer Faremo mot telefon-rekruttering
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Related post: National Police Union leader warns Justice Department about appointment of new PST head
Related post: Head of PST steps down, PST staff do not want another political appointment
Norwegian Justice Department blocks Breivik interview with BBC
The Norwegian newspaper, Verdens Gang (VG), writes that the journalist wishing to interview Anders Behring Breivik has been denied access to Ila Prison.
Acting prison director, Gøran Nilsson, recently told journalisten.no that Ila Prison was awaiting clearance from the Justice Department before the prison would give the journalist in question acccess to interview Breivik. According to Nilsson, if the Justice Department were to clear the journalist, the interview would, nevertheless, be conducted through a glass wall with prison guards present.
Police lawyer, Pål-Fredrik Hjort Kraby, now says to VG that there are “problematic conditions” surrounding the journalist. Hjort Kraby refuses to be specific about what is meant by “problematic conditions.”
Hjort Kraby confirms to VG that the journalist in question is from a foreign television station that Norwegian media recently reported was in the process of arranging an interview with Breivik. Norway’s TV2 writes that, according to several of their sources, the media company that Breivik had entered into agreement with was the renowned British broadcaster, the BBC.
According to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), the BBC is producing a documentary about the 7/22 attacks. Producer, Anne Leer, and photographer, Edward Watts, have been in Norway for three weeks talking to victims of the attacks, and will continue to record material for the program into mid-February. In addition, the BBC has applied for accreditation for the trial.
Breivik’s lawyer, Geir Lippestad, said to Fædrelandsvennen that what is important to note is that it is not the television station that has been denied access, but only a specific journalist. He also said that since Breivik has no preferences for a particular journalist, he assumes that Breivik has not changed opinion regarding which channel he wishes to be interviewd by. Speaking to NRK after having met with Breivik, Lippestad confirms that what is important to Breivik is which media company conducts the interview, and that Breivik simply wishes that the TV channel submit a new request from another journalist.
The Justice Department was, itself, a victim of the 7/22 attacks. Four Justice Department staff members were killed, three in the governmental offices and one attending the Labor Youth Organization (AUF) camp at Utøya.
Former Justice Minister, Knut Storberget (Labor), was controversial due to his attempts to ban blasphemy and introduce hijab into the Norwegian police force. A phone threat was reportedly made to the Justice Department in March 2011, and the Justice Department offices were completely destroyed by the large explosion on 7/22. Knut Storberget stepped down in November 2011 following death threats from a group called The Organization for a Free Norway (Organisasjonen Fritt Norge).
Google translation:
Refusing a journalist to interview Breivik
02/02/12
This week it was announced that Breivik will be interviewed by a foreign TV station. Now it is decided that the journalist does not escape into the prison….
Head of the Department of Justice, Gunnar Johansen, confirmed to AP that they have obtained information from abroad, and sent it to the prison. He would, however, refused to comment on what they found.
Original article: Nekter journalist å intervjue Breivik
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Google translation:
Journalist awaits Breivik-clearance
02/02/12
Acting jail director Goran Nilsson says that they are awaiting clearance by a journalist before the person can get into the visiting room with Breivik. He does not want to tell the editor that the journalist represents, first because the person has not yet been cleared and it is therefore not secure the interview will take place.
Prison management has sent the request for further clearance to the Department of Justice.
Glass invariable
If it comes to a consensus will be interviewed on the visiting room through a glass plate and two security guards present, as it is when defenders are visiting at Ila.
- It is mandatory and absolute as the situation is around the prisoner’s safety, but there may be changes on this later, says Nilsson.
Original article: Journalist venter på Breivik-klarering
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Google translation:
Refusing a journalist to interview Breivik
02/02/2012
“Problematic circumstances” that a person does not escape into the prison.
“The prison carries out control of all visitors to Breivik, including journalists. In connection with the assessment has found conditions that are problematic about the person,” said police attorney Paal-Fredrik Hjort Kraby to the AP.
Police Attorney Kraby will not elaborate on what is “problematic relationship”….
Original article: Nekter journalist å intervjue Breivik
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Google translation:
Ila stop Breivik interview with TV reporter
03.02.2012
Report does not meet Anders Breivik Behring at Ila Prison.
According to several sources such as TV 2 has talked with Anders Breivik Behring agreed to be interviewed by the BBC. But now Ila prison put an end to the interview. The current BBC reporter that the agreement was signed with, you will not be allowed to visit Breivik in prison….
Original article: Ila stopper Breivik-intervju med TV-reporter
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Google translation:
Discuss the appeal, interview and interrogation denial of Breivik
03.feb.2012
Defense Geir Lippestad Friday will discuss with Anders Breivik Behring whether he will be interviewed by someone other than the journalist, the police have refused to meet him….
Also the question whether he will be interviewed by someone else after the authorities on Thursday refused to accept a female reporter from a foreign channel, will be discussed.
“What is important is that it is not the channel that he wanted to speak to, which is banned, only that particular journalist. Breivik have no preferences to specific journalists, so I do not anticipate that he has changed the perception of the channel he wants to be interviewed,” says Lippestad….
Original article: Drøfter anke, intervju og avhørsnekt med Breivik
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Google translation:
Breivik says yes to photography in court
02/03/12
The defender confirmed earlier this week that the terror suspect has agreed to an interview with foreign media, but Thursday it became known that the journalist who asked about the interview is not security cleared the prison, the Justice Ministry.
“We briefed him that the journalist was not security cleared. For him it does not play any role. He is only concerned with the medium, and would thus only that they send a new request from another journalist,” says Lippestad.
Original article: Breivik sier ja til fotografering i retten
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Related article: Journalist awaits Breivik-clearance (Journalist venter på Breivik-klarering)
Related article: BBC: “One of the most difficult we have done” (BBC: – Noko av det vanskelegaste vi har gjort)
Related post: Ila Prison preparing for Breivik TV interview, three 7/22 documentaries in the making
March phone threats were made to the Justice Department
Stavangeravisen writes that the March telephone threats were made to the Justice Department.
Previous Justice Minister, Knut Storberget (Labor), stepped down in November 2011, a week after he and several other Labor Party leaders received threats posted on a Russian website from a group called The Organization for a Free Norway (Organisasjonen Fritt Norge). Storberget had been a controversial Justice Minister due to his attempts to introduce law changes that would make blasphemy illegal and proposing that the hijab should be allowed in the Norwegian police force.
The Justice Department was located on the seventh floor of the same building as the Prime Minster’s office and was amongst the most severely destroyed offices in the building. Four Justice Department staff members were killed in the 7/22 attacks, three were at work inside the building and one was attending the Labor Youth Organization (AUF) camp at Utøya.
Google translation:
Now do not talk anymore Breivik
24/01/12
Behring Breivik refuses to talk to police before they can guarantee him computer access for the whole sentence after trial. It will not the police do….
The police would, among other things, Breivik asked if it was he who called the Justice Department in March last year and threatened to kill AUF-ers….
Original article: Nå snakker ikke Breivik lenger
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Related post: Caller to government offices in March mentioned shooting Labor Youth members
Related post: Breivik admits he called goverment department, does not confirm he was March caller
Related article: Storberget about death threats: “Unpleasant for me and family” (Storberget om drapstruslene: – Ubehagelig for meg og familien)
Related article: Tearful Storberget: “I have four good reasons to resign” (Gråtkvalt Storberget: – Jeg har fire gode grunner til å gå av)
Related article: The clock stopped when the bomb slammed (Klokken stanset da bomben smalt)
Related article: Killed on the job for the Ministry of Justice (Drept på jobb for Justisdepartementet)
Related article: To see the meeting room of the Ministry of Justice out (Slik ser møterommet til Justisdepartementet ut
Justice Department considers law change that will make Breivik book illegal
Dagsavisen reports that the Norwegian Justice Department is considering a law change that will make it illegal for Anders Behring Breivik to publish the book he is writing. Chief State’s Attorney, Kjerstin A. Kvande, has told Dagsavisen that she understands the need for an evaluation of such a law change.
On the other hand, the General Secretary of the Norwegian Press Association, Per Edgar Kokkvold, is skeptical of a law that makes it illegal for a person sentenced for a serious crime to publish a book.
Google translation:
New law may stop Breivik’s book
23. January 2012
Justice considering an amendment to prevent the murder and rape of men give out books about their crimes and make money on them….
First Prosecutor Kjerstin A. Kvande of Public Prosecutions told Times that she understands that the question be raised, while the Secretary General Per Edgar Kokkvold of the Norwegian Press Association is skeptical of a ban.
“There must be a responsibility of the publishing industry to have a high enough ethical standards to refrain from publishing such books,” believes Kokkvold.
Original article: Ny lov kan stoppe Breiviks bok
