Outrage over US military plan to livestream firing squad execution

The US military plans to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, who shot dead 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009, marking the first such execution by a US military firing squad since 1945. The decision to broadcast the execution has sparked outrage, with the United Nations, US lawmakers, and religious leaders condemning the move. Senator Thom Tillis and Representative Adam Smith have called the plan "beyond disgusting" and "disturbing," respectively, comparing it to public executions by oppressive regimes.

The Pentagon, however, insists the execution will be streamed live, after initially correcting a tweet stating they would make sure people could watch it. The UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights has called the livestreaming a violation of the prohibition of torture. The last US military execution occurred in 1961, when John Bennett was hanged for rape and attempted murder.