By Nina Berglund
鈥�...There is no question about Breivik鈥檚 guilt. Not only has he admitted to the attacks, he鈥檚 said he would strike again if given a chance. Why give him such a platform to describe what he did in all its chilling detail, and spread the right-wing extremist ideology that he claims motivated his attacks?
Because Norwegian authorities are bound and determined to accord Breivik the same local brand of justice as any other criminal defendant in the country. The trial itself seems to be both an expression of Norwegian civility and a form of national catharsis, however painful that might be.
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The trial has received widespread international coverage and judging from online comments on the case, many persons outside Norway are surprised, even disgusted, that Breivik has been treated with such civility and respect in the courtroom. Some were shocked that all members of the prosecution, and not least the court-appointed psychiatrists who must evaluate Breivik鈥檚 mental state, shook hands with Breivik on the trial鈥檚 opening day.
That鈥檚 simply the custom in Norway, along with relatively [short] prison terms and an emphasis on criminal rehabilitation, as opposed to pure punishment. That鈥檚 under some pressure now, but it鈥檚 worth noting that even during some of Breivik鈥檚 most horrific testimony about his 鈥榚xecutions,鈥� there were no emotional outbursts among Norwegians in the courtroom.鈥�
