IN JULY 1976, GUDRUN ENSSLIN, ANDREAS BAADER, AND JAN RASPE LODGED AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT WITH THE COMMISSION ALLEGING THAT THEIR UNJUSTIFIED AND HARSH DETENTION CONDITIONS (1) VIOLATED ARTICLE 3 OF THE EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS CONVENTIONS AND (2) HAD AFFLICTED CONSIDERABLE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY ON THEM. THEY ALSO PROTESTED THE LIMITATION ON THE NUMBER OF DEFENSE ATTORNEYS OF THEIR CHOICE, THE EXCLUSION OF THEIR DEFENSE ATTORNEYS FROM THE TRIAL, AND THE CONTACT BAN (IN CONNECTION WITH THE MARTIN SCHLEYER KIDNAPPING). DESPITE THE DEATH OF THE THREE INMATES IN OCTOBER 1977, WHICH WAS OFFICIALLY DECLARED SUICIDE, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MADE A FINAL DECISION ON THE CASE IN STRASBURG ON JULY 8, 1978, REJECTING ALL COMPLAINTS AS UNFOUNDED. IN A DETAILED STATEMENT OF REASONS, THE COMMISSION ARGUED THAT THE UNUSUAL DETENTION CONDITIONS, INCLUDING THE ISOLATION FROM OTHER NONTERRORIST PRISONERS, WERE JUSTIFIED BY SECURITY REQUIREMENTS. THE 'REMOVAL OF ASSOCIATION' UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS IS ALSO PRACTICED BY OTHER MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION. EXPERT WITNESSES COULD NOT DEFINITELY ATTRIBUTE ANY HEALTH DAMAGES THE PRISONERS HAD SUFFERED TO PRISON CONDITIONS IN VIEW OF THE LONG DURATION OF THE DETENTION AND THE INMATES' REPEATED HUNGER STRIKES. CONCERNING THE LIMITATIONS OF THE DEFENSE, THE COMMISSION RULED THAT, ALTHOUGH AN ACCUSED HAS THE RIGHT TO THE COUNSEL OF HIS CHOICE, THE NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS CAN BE LIMITED BY LAW. THE EXCLUSION OF THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS FROM THE TRIAL WAS JUSTIFIED SINCE THEY WERE SUSPECTED OF INVOLVEMENT IN CRIMINAL ACTIONS (SUPPORT OF A CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY) THEMSELVES. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)