Wellington - The suspected Australian white supremacist who
opened fire on worshippers in two mosques in Christchurch earlier
this month, killing 50 people, has reportedly lodged a complaint over
prison conditions.
According to New Zealand media reports, the 28-year-old has lodged a
formal complaint about his rights in prison.
A Corrections source told the news website Stuff that the prisoner
complained he was being denied access to visitors and phone calls
from his cell in an Auckland prison.
A Corrections spokesperson did neither deny nor confirm the claim but
told dpa on Sunday he was "managed in accordance with the provisions
set out in the Corrections Act 2004 and our international obligations
for the treatment of prisoners."
"At this time he has no access to television, radio or newspapers and
no approved visitors," the spokesperson added. "For operational
security reasons no further information will be provided."
The suspect is held in Auckland's Paremoremo Prison on the North
Island, the country's only high security unit after he was flown
there from Christchurch by the New Zealand Defence Force.
The 28-year-old was remanded in custody and is set to reappear at the
High Court in Christchurch on April 5. It is likely that he will
remain in Auckland and will appear in court via audio-visual link. He
has rejected a duty lawyer and said he would represent himself in
court.
At his first court appearance one day after the attack he was charged
with one count of murder but further charges are expected to be added
at his next appearance.
Police have not yet confirmed if he would face any terrorism-related
charges.
There are concerns that he will use his trial as a platform to
broadcast his white supremacist beliefs, in a manner similar to
Anders Breivik, the Norwegian right-wing terrorist who murdered 77
people in 2011.
Breivik has also complained about his treatment in prison. In 2018
the European Court of Human Rights rejected Breivik's appeal who had
complained that his prison conditions were akin to "inhuman or
degrading torture.