Thank you for your concern. The whole country is in shock, but we are determined to not let this break us, but make our democratic and free society even more democratic and support even stronger our principles of freedom. 

Thoughts and prayers for the people of Norway. 

god with you all prayers for Norwegian people

Oslo, such a beautiful and peacefull city hit in the heart!
Norwegian people so generous toward developping and poor countries, killed by blind craziness...
What a mess!

It is indeed very tragic, unexpected, undeserved.

Hopefully Norvegian will overcome this tragic event and most importently

comprehend the very reason of this mess.

One thing though, media should always be taken for granted. By the way it might have little to do with terrorist in Afghanistan and a need for democracy. I am just saying. My heart and feeling goes with that great nation!

My condolences on this very sad day.

I read in the papers that, according to Norweigian law, the maximum jail time the killer can get is 21 years.

Is this correct? 

Oded

Yes, that is correct. The Norwegian penal system is based on a thought that one should hate the acts, not the person who committed them, and that the prisoners should be assisted to be re-integrated into the society again after the imprisonment. It's not to the same extent as in other countries based on a thought that the prisoner should suffer. 

By the way, it is interesting to note that some polls show that the large majority of Norwegians are still not in favor of capital punishment, even for this terrorist.

This is part of why I'm so proud of being Norwegian these days. The solidarity, strength, courage and love people show for each other now is amazing. 

Thanks Line,

I think some crimes are unforgivable and some people don't deserve a chance to re-integrate into society, but I respect the concept you explained and I hope the people of Norway find a way to overcome this and not let it change their beleifs.

Oded

In addition to 21 years imprisonment the court can also add several years for "security" reasons, so I think that might add quite a lot of years which in reality leads to lifelong imprisonment. But I'm not totally sure about this. 

Yes, it's hard to have any sympathy with a twisted maniac like this. But most people don't express as much hate as they just find it tragic and sad. However, I think this might lead to some useful debates about to what extent the anti-immigration and anti-muslim sentiments freely expressed hatefully in internet fora should be allowed to go on. 

Yep. But one mostly want to use this type of prisons for drug addicts and those who have committed "petty crimes" - people who have for some reason "fallen outside" of the normal society, based on the thought that the state social protection mechanisms (like school, psychiatry etc) have failed them. Many of them are not capable of taking care of themselves, they have not had vocational training, have had years of unemployment, have sustained drug abuse etc, so they need rehabs, therapy and life training to become full citizens of the society again. And isolation and normal prisons can not give them that, but it will rather make them continue the criminality after they are released.

But if this this type of penalty system is adequate for sick bastards as this terrorist, who clearly is a psychopath and believes in a twisted ideology... now thats another question...

I see that some hate groups understandably are established on Facebook where people express their disgust with him. But in general this is not the general sentiment expressed in public or in the normal media.

The adequate treatment for this guy should be: putting him in psychiatry for good, because he's patently sick, and not letting him become a guru/icon of evil by beeing a "political prisoner" or even worse a "martyr".

I think this type of extreme ideology will foster sympathy from very, very few people. Fortunately. 

Nothing to do with ideology, nor extreme...this guy needs some specific help. By doing so, don't let him succed in his plans.

Sorry, but this actually has a lot to do with ideology. 

http://www.2shared.com/file/M-s-2fBD/2083-AEuropeanDeclarationofInd.html

He also posted a youtube video which now has been deleted. It was some extreme shit about hate towards "marxism", multi-culturalism, and Muslims. Details about how to start a revolution, be a crusader, how to kill and plant bombs for the greater good of Europeanness.

Oh well. Let us agree to disagree. 

People of Norway: we're all with you.  This must be very difficult times for you.

My Condolences to you. 

Hi Line,

Yes, all my thoughts and condolences to Norway and its people.

On the article it says murderers & rapists also go to these kind of prisons in Norway.

Now I find this prison concept and the Scandinavian point of view (as described in article) interesting and would really be eager if someone could provide more information, articles or statistics, comparing Scandinavian and different repression systems and the results yielded. Thanks

Kind regards,

Sarah

Yes, well many of the murderers and rapists have been on the fringes of society. That's why they acted as they did in the first place. Dont have any statistics right now (google?), but we often hear stories from prisoners who praise this prison system themselves as really having helped them, and enabled them to end the negative cycle and contact with "bad influences". 

Thanks for all your thoughts. Just want to share this link with you, a cover version of a known song called "My little country"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_9BTHcpssM&feature=share

Hi everybody,

I've been living in Oslo for three years and I have just moved to Geneva to work for P&G on 4th of July. I have been shocked by what happened on Friday and all my thoughts go to the Norwegian people and their families. I love Oslo, I love Norway and I love Norwegian people and I hate to see this happening. I send my warm thoughts to all Norwegians in Geneva as well!

I will also share a link with you, a song by Bjørn Eidsvåg - "Eg ser"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYnzDqJqGwM

Adina

A good analysis of what's going on in the Norwegian society and psyche these days:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/eirik-bergesen/norway-is-passing-the-tes_b_908008.html?ref=fb&src=sp

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Norway...