By Caleb Harris · Contributing Writer
Nidal Malik Hasan, a United States Army major and physician, shot and killed 13 people, including soldiers and civilians, and injured more than 30 others inside a military hospital in 2009. He was arraigned in 2011 for 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder.
At a later court-martial in 2013, Hasan was tried and found guilty on all charges and sentenced to death.
The Death Penalty Information Center, in an article about Hasan, wrote, “The U.S. military has its own legal system, including the death penalty, for crimes committed by service members. However, the military death penalty has been used sparsely outside times of war.”
Hasan’s execution is scheduled to be carried out Dec. 3 by firing squad. In a surprising turn, the Trump administration announced plans this month to livestream Hasan’s execution, a decision that has seen significant discussion and backlash from people on both sides of the political spectrum.
President Trump reversed his decision in a statement on Oct. 15, saying, “Many very good and well-meaning people would rather not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device. He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed. That said, the execution may be viewed in person by the immediate families of the victims, if they so choose.”
As a dual-enrolled student, I have the wonderful opportunity to still have several forums for discussion with my high school. Recently, a discussion has been floating around about this topic.
I have seen many of the arguments for and against the livestreamed execution in an environment with both conservative and liberal students.
Some students agreed with the livestream. They noted the value of setting an example for other criminals who may commit similar crimes. One student said that “public execution was a way to show everyone that justice (was) done. A man who kills 13 people in the name of Jihad — an officer of my nation’s Army no less – deserves nothing less than the death penalty.”
Many other students disagreed with a livestream of his execution for various reasons. Some noted that we should not desensitize ourselves to violence or sin in the world. Some said that we should be forgiving, as Christ tells us to “turn the other cheek” and to love our enemy. “The loss of life should never be for entertainment,” another student said.
Another counterargument to those who agreed with the livestream was that global attention and public spectacle of a jihadist’s execution may worsen the problem of global extremism rather than fix it.
While I disagree with the logic of the statements of those who disagree with the livestream, I agree that a livestream was the wrong move. Historically and biblically, executions have been carried out in public for two reasons. The first is to allow the victims’ families and the public closure from violence committed by the criminal, and the second is to deter other criminals from committing similar crimes.
I am not necessarily opposed to the idea of public executions, but in this circumstance, I would agree it was not handled as it should have been. His execution method was not decided at his trial, but instead at a much more recent time. Furthermore, a livestream of his execution seems much more like attempting to make a spectacle of his death rather than bringing justice and closure.
Hasan will still receive justice for his crimes. However, any potential jihadist recruitment and cheap spectacle will be reduced because the viewing will not be accessible over livestream.
This is the best outcome possible. A livestream is not the best course of action, as it becomes too accessible to many people. However, some executions, this one included, should be public to offer solace to the families of those Hasan killed. Other future executions may also be fit to be public, especially the execution of criminals who have committed truly horrendous crimes.
Major Hasan’s execution will be “public” in that families of the victims and observers will be present. That doesn’t mean we need to blast it over the internet and cheapen the gravity of the event.
