Anders Behring Breivik, the man who massacred 77 people in Norway on July 22, has said he deserves to be set free and that he should receive a medal of honor for the brutal killings. Breivik, 32, has proudly confessed to detonating a fertilizer bomb outside of Oslo government headquarters and for gunning down people at the Labour Party youth camp. However, he has denounced the charges that say his attacks were a  criminal act and refuses to acknowledge the court’s authority.

On Monday, he walked into the Oslo courtroom for the final detention before his trial and raised his handcuffed arms in “some kind of right-wing extremist greeting”, according to his lawyer, Geir Lippestad. Breivik read to the court from his prepared statements and said that the massacre was meant to oppose the “traitors” that welcome immigrants who encourage “an Islamic colonization of Norway”. He asked the court to let him go free and told the judge that he should receive a medal of honor for the slayings.

Breivik stated, “The attacks on the government headquarters were preventative attacks on traitors to the nation, people committing, or planning to commit, cultural destruction, including destruction of Norwegian culture and the Norwegian ethnicity.” He also claimed, “The ethnic Norwegians will be a minority in Oslo in the next 10 years. It is a fact. I represent the Norwegian resistance.”

The 100 survivors and the victims’ family members who witnessed this were shocked by his statements. “It wasn’t good that he got to say what he wanted to say,” said Amel Baltic, a 16-year-old survivor of the Utoya massacre. “It made me irritated.” Some survivors of the attacks are worried that Breivik will use his trial as an excuse to further his extremist views.

Breivik identifies himself as the commander of a militant regime that’s purpose is to cause the downfall of European governments. After they have fallen, a new order will be put into place and Muslim immigrants will be deported. The police have not found any evidence of an organization bent on destroying European governments, however, and think Breivik worked alone.

The judge ruled that he must stay in custody until April 16, which is when his trial will start. He could receive up to 21 years in prison, unless he is diagnosed as mentally ill. Then, he would be sent to a psychiatric prison. The first mental evaluation deemed Breivik criminally insane and psychotic, which drew much criticism. Another evaluation was issued, but Breivik staunchly refused to work with the psychiatrists.

The defense lawyer, Lippestad, thinks Breivik’s comments highlight what is yet to come during the trial. “It’s a preparation for the trial. Much of this case is about his personality,” the lawyer stated.

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The 32-year-old Anders Behring Breivik who took responsibility for the twin attacks in Norway on Friday, appeared in court Monday, admitting to the massacre but denying the terrorism charges.

The charges against him refer to ‘destabilizing vital functions of society, including government, and causing serious fear in the population’, according to the BBC. Breivik had requested to wear a uniform to the hearing but was denied by the court. He had asked for full media presence, but this was also denied as Judge Kim Heger ruled that Breivik might be using the opportunity to signal yet unidentified accomplices.

According to the Norwegian penal code, the crimes of the right-wing extremist can result in up to 21 years of prison, but the Norwegian police is considering charging the attack according to a revised section of the law that refers to crimes against humanity. One of the clauses in the 2008 revision includes the persecution of a group based on their political convictions. This could give Breivik up to 30 years in prison.

So far, Breivik has to remain eight weeks in custody under a letter-, visitation- and media ban. Four of these weeks will be in total isolation. During the hearing, he recognized that he would be spending the rest of his life in prison.

According to Breivik’s lawyer, the 32-year-old does not believe his act was wrong. Breivik also claimed that people would try to shoot him on the way to the hearing and is under the impression that torture is common practice in Norwegian prisons. “He has a different understanding of how it is to be in prison, completely removed from reality,” said his lawyer, Geir Lippestad.

The prosecutor Christian Hatlo, described Breivik’s appearance in court as ‘calm’. “He had a great need to explain why he had done what he did. He was to some extend allowed to do so but once he started to read from his alleged manifest, and that started to drag on, he was interrupted by the judge.”

Breivik had argued that he “was acting to save Norway and Europe from ‘Marxist and Muslim colonisation’” and according to a BBC report, he claimed that his operation was aimed specifically at Norway’s governing Labour Party. He accuses them of failing the country on immigration.

Two psychiatrists have been appointed to assess Breivik’s mental health.

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