Archive · 9 Oct 2026
UN Says Livestreamed US Military Execution Would Amount to Torture
Nidal Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people in a 2009 shooting at Fort Hood.
US officials plan to execute him by firing squad on December 3.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the execution would be public and livestreamed.
The United Nations human rights office said showing an execution live would be like a public execution and would violate the ban on torture.
The planned execution would be the US military’s first since 1961.
It would also be its first firing-squad execution since World War II.
The UN human rights office said livestreaming an execution would breach the absolute prohibition of torture.
US officials plan to livestream the firing-squad execution of convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the execution would be public and discussed it in videos and an interview.
Hasan, a former US Army psychiatrist, was convicted of killing 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting.
The execution is scheduled for December 3 and would be the US military’s first execution since 1961.
- Who
- The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights commented on US plans to execute Nidal Hasan.
- What
- US officials plan to livestream Hasan’s execution by firing squad; the UN said livestreaming it would breach the prohibition of torture.
- When
- The UN statement was made Friday, October 9; the execution is scheduled for December 3.
- Where
- The execution is to be carried out by the US military; no specific location is given.
- Why
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the public should understand that such crimes carry serious consequences.
UN Human Rights Concern
US Officials’ Stated Position
Livestreaming the execution
UN Human Rights Concern
The UN human rights office said livestreaming would amount to a public execution and breach the absolute prohibition of torture.
US Officials’ Stated Position
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the execution would be public, and a Pentagon official said it would be livestreamed.
Public rationale
UN Human Rights Concern
The UN statement described the human-rights implications of publicly broadcasting an execution.
US Officials’ Stated Position
Hegseth said the public should understand that such acts carry serious consequences.
- Person facing execution
- Nidal Hasan, a former US Army psychiatrist
- Conviction
- Killing 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting
- Planned method
- Firing squad
- Scheduled date
- December 3
- UN position
- Livestreaming an execution would breach the absolute prohibition of torture
- Historical significance
- Would be the US military’s first execution since 1961 and first firing-squad execution since World War II
- Earlier firing-squad execution cited
- Eddie Slovik was executed in 1945 for desertion