OSLO: The gunman who killed two people at Oslo’s 2022 Pride festival was handed decades behind bars on Thursday over the attack that the court said aimed to “instill fear in LGBTQ people”.

Zaniar Matapour, who pledged allegiance to the the militant Islamic State group, was found guilty of opening fire on June 25, 2022 outside two bars in central Oslo, including a famous gay club, just hours before the Pride Parade. Nine other people were wounded.

Norway handed the 45-year-old Norwegian of Iranian origin the maximum penalty of 30 years behind bars — with possible extensions — for committing an “aggravated act of terror.” “The attack undoubtedly targeted gay people,” the Oslo court said in its verdict. “The goal was both to kill as many gay people as possible and to instill fear in LGBTQ people more broadly.” The perpetrator was ordered to pay more than 100 million kroner ($9.5 million) in damages to the plaintiffs.

Matapour, who was restrained by passersby after the shooting, has never revealed his motives. He has pleaded not guilty.

Psychiatric experts have been divided over his mental health, and thereby his legal responsibility, as the accused has previously been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2024