Italian leader supports Norwegian attacker’s views
July 28th, 2011 - 10:51 am ICT by IANSMoscow, July 28 (IANS/RIA Novosti) An Italian member of the European Parliament has described some ideas of Norway’s mass killer Anders Behring Breivik as “good” and in some cases “excellent,” the BBC said.
Mario Borghezio, who belongs to the anti-immigration Northern League party, a partner in Italy’s government coalition, condemned Breivik’s attacks that killed 76 people last week, but supported his position against Muslim immigration to Europe.
“Some of the ideas he expressed are good, barring the violence. Some of them are great,” Borghezio was quoted by BBC as saying in an interview with Italy’s Il Sole-24 Ore radio station.
Borghezio agreed with Breivik’s “opposition to Islam and his explicit accusation that Europe has surrendered before putting up a fight against its Islamicisation”.
His comments sparked strong criticism both from the Italian opposition, who has called for his resignation, and fellow European parliamentarians, the British broadcaster said.
During a closed hearing at a Norwegian court Monday, Breivik, 32, admitted to carrying out a bombing in Oslo that killed eight people, and a mass shooting at a Labour Party youth camp on the nearby island of Utoya, which left 68 dead.
According to police and court officials, Breivik said the attacks were “atrocious but necessary” measures intended to “save Norway and western Europe” from a “Muslim takeover.”
Norwegian Prosecutor Christian Hatlo said Tuesday that if charged with crimes against humanity, Breivik could face up to 30 years in prison.
In line with the laws in Norway, a court’s verdict could be revised as many times as possible and therefore the prison sentence could be prolonged as well.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
sd
- Italian lawmaker apologises for backing Breivik ideology (Lead) - Jul 28, 2011
- Police guard from massacred Utoya camp missing - Jul 25, 2011
- Norway failed to act on Breivik 'explosives' report - Jul 26, 2011
- Police hunt for man who compares himself to Norway attacker - Jul 27, 2011
- Norway killer officially charged with terrorism - Mar 08, 2012
- Norway killer's friends viewed him as gay - May 29, 2012
- Norway judge dismissed over call to execute killer - Apr 18, 2012
- It was gruesome but necessary, says Norway attacker - Jul 24, 2011
- Norwegian killer posted manifesto, video before attacks - Jul 24, 2011
- Norway killing suspect may get 21 years in jail (Lead) - Jul 24, 2011
- Norway killer's German lover deported - Apr 20, 2012
- Norway gunman says he acted alone (Second Lead) - Jul 24, 2011
- Norway gunman claims to be sane - Apr 05, 2012
- Norway mass killer says acted in defence of nation - Apr 16, 2012
- Suspect confesses to Norwegian camp mass killing - Jul 24, 2011
Tags: accusation, behring, court officials, crimes against humanity, european parliament, european parliamentarians, government coalition, hatlo, il sole 24 ore, italian leader, italian member, labour party, mario borghezio, mass killer, nearby island, necessary measures, prison sentence, ria novosti, sole 24 ore, western europe