Maj. Nidal Hasan, the Army psychiatrist sentenced last week to death for the 2009 shootings at Fort Hood, has lost another battle with the military: His beard has been shaved, an Army spokesman said Tuesday.
Hasan had cited religious grounds for seeking to keep the beard that he grew while awaiting court-martial on 45 counts of murder and attempted murder. After months of legal wrangling over the beard, Hasan was allowed to wear it during the trial.
But while imprisoned at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., he must be cleanshaven and wear the required uniform and insignia, the Army spokesman said.
Hasan had sought an exemption to the Army’s grooming policy last year, but it was denied by Pentagon officials. Army rules say prisoners who refuse to shave “may be restrained with the reasonable force necessary” to apply electric hair clippers and a restraint chair may be used. All uses of force must be videotaped and officials must produce a “detailed written report” afterward.
The spokesman said Hasan has now been shaved but did not say whether that was done against his will.
No new photo of Hasan will be released, the spokesman said.
