The U.S. government has confirmed plans to livestream the firing squad execution of former U.S. Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan on December 3, marking the first public execution in the country since 1937. The announcement, made by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, follows President Donald Trump’s order for Hasan’s death by firing squad after his 2009 conviction for the Fort Hood shooting, which killed 13 people and wounded more than 30.
The execution will be broadcast live, with Hegseth stating that the livestream is intended to demonstrate the ‘serious consequences’ of such acts. Hasan, who represented himself during his trial, told jurors he had ‘switched sides’ in what he described as America’s war with Islam. The planned event has drawn international attention and sparked debate over the ethics of public executions and livestreaming state-sanctioned violence.
International Reactions and Concerns
Political figures in Australia have raised objections to the livestream’s accessibility in their country. One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce described the execution as ‘Roman amphitheatre stuff’ and expressed concern about Australian audiences witnessing the event. ‘We don’t have the death penalty in Australia, and I certainly don’t want any children, or anybody … to witness another human being being shot by a firing squad,’ Joyce told News24. He clarified that his opposition was not directed at the U.S. government’s decision to impose the death penalty, stating that was ‘a discussion for the American people to have.’
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has written to Australia’s eSafety Commissioner seeking assurances that the livestream will not be accessible in Australia. ‘I think this is incredibly shocking and barbaric, and Australians don’t want this on our screens,’ she told the ABC. Labor Assistant Minister Daniel Mulino declined to comment on the matter, stating he did not wish to weigh in on the ‘domestic politics of any other country when it comes to matters like this.’
In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Andy Burnham condemned the planned execution, calling it ‘abhorrent’ and stating he would not support such an event. ‘It’s something that I find quite abhorrent in many ways,’ Burnham said in an interview with The Rest is Politics. He emphasized that while he opposed the practice, his comments were not intended as a broader critique of U.S. policies. ‘You don’t have to go around providing constant running commentary on the actions of other countries,’ he added.
Domestic U.S. Perspectives
The U.S. decision to livestream the execution has also sparked debate domestically. Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson questioned whether restricting the livestream in Australia would amount to internet censorship, asking, ‘If it’s going to be livestreamed, how are you going to do that without creating a censorship ban on the internet?’ Wilson did not endorse violence but emphasized the challenge of balancing transparency with potential restrictions.
The execution of Nidal Malik Hasan by firing squad would be the first public execution in the U.S. since Roscoe Jackson was hanged in Missouri in 1937. Legal experts have noted that the event could face delays due to ongoing legal challenges, though no official postponement has been announced.
Background on Nidal Malik Hasan
Hasan, a former U.S. Army major, was convicted in 2013 for the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, an attack he carried out while shouting ‘Allahu Akbar.’ The shooting occurred at the military base in Texas, where Hasan opened fire on unarmed colleagues. During his trial, Hasan argued that he had ‘switched sides’ in what he framed as a conflict between the U.S. and Islam. His actions resulted in the deaths of 13 people and injuries to more than 30 others. The case has remained a subject of debate over military justice, extremism, and the appropriate punishment for such crimes.