United StatesTrump Approves Firing Squad Execution
Nidal Hasan to be executed for killing 13 at Fort Hood in 2009. The execution will be the first by firing squad in the US military since World War II.
Global Newsflix 2 min read
President Donald Trump has approved the execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad, according to the Pentagon. Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in Texas in 2009.
The execution will be the first by firing squad in the US military since World War II. Hasan, a former army psychiatrist, was sentenced to death by a military jury in 2013.
Hasan opened fire on a medical facility at the Fort Hood base on November 5, 2009, killing 12 soldiers and one civilian. He was shot and partially paralyzed by a civilian police officer who responded to the attack.
The court that convicted Hasan was told that he was opposed to the US military's occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. He had also spoken online with the radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, an al-Qaida propagandist and American citizen.
The Secretary of the Army will set the time and place of the execution. The US military has not carried out an execution since 1961.
The use of the death penalty is rare in the US military. There are currently four inmates on the US military's death row, including Hasan.
The execution of Hasan will be a significant event, marking the first time the US military has used a firing squad to carry out a death sentence since World War II.
Key facts
- Nidal Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009
- The execution will be the first by firing squad in the US military since World War II
- Hasan was sentenced to death by a military jury in 2013
- The Secretary of the Army will set the time and place of the execution
Three perspectives
Neutral
The execution of Nidal Hasan will be a significant event, marking a rare use of the death penalty in the US military. The case has drawn attention to the issue of terrorism and the role of the US military in combating it. The outcome of the execution will be closely watched.
Positive
The approval of the execution by President Trump reflects the seriousness with which the US government views the crime committed by Hasan. The use of the death penalty in this case may serve as a deterrent to others who would consider committing similar acts of violence.
Negative
The use of the death penalty is a controversial issue, and the execution of Hasan will likely be opposed by those who argue that it is inhumane or ineffective as a deterrent. The fact that Hasan was able to carry out the attack despite being a member of the US military raises questions about the effectiveness of the military's security measures.
Your week in news, every Wednesday
The biggest stories of the week for your edition, in your inbox every Wednesday morning, your time. Free, and you can unsubscribe at any time.