US: Major Nidal Hasan - the Fort Hood Massacre - The 4 Freedoms Library2024-03-28T09:14:55Zhttp://4freedoms.com/forum/topics/us-major-nidal-hasan-the-fort-hood-massacre?groupUrl=military&feed=yes&xn_auth=no7 September 2012 Last updated…tag:4freedoms.com,2012-11-18:3766518:Comment:1148972012-11-18T04:31:52.298ZAlan Lakehttp://4freedoms.com/profile/AlanLake
<p><span class="story-date"><span class="date">7 September 2012</span> <span class="time-text">Last updated at </span><span class="time">07:08</span></span></p>
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<p><span class="story-date"><span class="date">7 September 2012</span> <span class="time-text">Last updated at </span><span class="time">07:08</span></span></p>
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<h1 class="story-header">Fort Hood accused Nidal Hasan 'must shave off beard'</h1>
<div class="caption body-narrow-width"><img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/62309000/jpg/_62309579_62309574.jpg" width="304" height="171" alt="Nidal Hasan"/><span>Nidal Hasan is accused of opening fire on soldiers preparing for deployment at Fort Hood</span></div>
<div class="story-feature related narrow"><a class="hidden" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19513642#story_continues_1">Continue reading the main story</a><h2>Related Stories</h2>
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<li><a class="story" rel="published-1257514026000" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8346315.stm">Timeline: Fort Hood shootings</a></li>
<li><a class="story" rel="published-1286893997477" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11525580">Profile: Major Nidal Malik Hasan</a></li>
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<p class="introduction" id="story_continues_1">A man accused of killing 13 people at a Texas army base in 2009 has been told to shave his beard before his murder trial, or have it forcibly removed.</p>
<p>Major Nidal Hasan argued he had grown it in compliance with his Muslim faith.</p>
<p>But a military judge said the 41-year-old had failed to prove sincere religious reasons for wearing the beard, which is against army rules.</p>
<p>The army psychiatrist is accused of opening fire on soldiers preparing for deployment at Fort Hood, Texas.</p>
<p>Thirty-two people were injured in the attack. Maj Hasan faces 13 counts of pre-meditated murder and 32 counts of attempted pre-meditated murder.</p>
<p>The rampage was the worst of its type at a US military base and Maj Hasan could face the death penalty if convicted.</p>
<p><span class="cross-head">Forced shaving</span></p>
<p>The judge, Col Gregory Gross, delivered the ruling after a hearing on whether a federal law on religious freedom applied to Maj Hasan's case.</p>
<p>Prosecutors had also argued the beard made it harder for witnesses to identify the accused.</p>
<p>But Maj Hasan's lawyers disputed the claims, saying that earlier in the year their client had wanted to plead guilty and "accept responsibility".</p>
<p>He even tried to change US Army rules that prevented Maj Hasan from pleading guilty to murder in a death penalty case, the lawyers added.</p>
<p>Earlier, the suspect had been found in contempt of court at six pre-trial hearings on account of his facial hair. He had been sent to a trailer to watch the proceedings on a closed-circuit television.</p>
<p>But on Thursday Maj Hasan was present in the courtroom. Col Gross explained the accused had been permitted in court to prevent a future appeal on the decision, if convicted.</p>
<p>According to military protocol on forced shaving, a team of five military police officers must restrain the inmate "with the reasonable force necessary".</p>
<p>It must be done with electric clippers and must be filmed. In addition, a medical official must be on hand in case of injuries.</p>
<p>Maj Hasan was paralysed from the chest down after being shot by police during the incident at Fort Hood.</p>
<p id="">He is being held at a special hospital cell about 15 miles (25km) from the Texas base.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19513642" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19513642</a></p>