Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian white supremacist who murdered 77 people, made his first public appearance since his 2012 sentencing today (Tuesday).
After the guards removed his handcuffs, Breivik offered a Nazi salute.
Breivik asked for the hearing because he claims the guards effectively "torture" him, particularly with solitary confinement and what he considers the unreasonable use of handcuffs. He says that the treatment is so severe, he had to drop out of the classes he was taking with the University of Oslo.
His lawyer added that the punishments are worse than the death penalty.
The government, however, insists that its actions fall within the boundaries of the law.
In a previous prison, Breivik claimed that his conditions were "inhumane," because he had no view from his cell, received cold coffee and did not get enough butter.
The hearing, which is being held in the prison gym, is expected to conclude by Friday.
In 2011, Breivik set off a bomb in Oslo and opened fire on a Labour Youth camp held on a nearby island. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 21 years in prison, the maximum sentence permissible under Norwegian law.