Vatican Metropolis, October 10 (ANI): Pope Leo XIV on Saturday criticised US President Donald Trump’s approval of the execution of convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan by firing squad, reiterating the Catholic Church’s opposition to capital punishment and describing the demise penalty as an assault on human dignity.
In a submit on X, the Pope harassed that justice and public security may very well be ensured with out resorting to capital punishment, advocating methods of detention that shield residents whereas preserving the opportunity of redemption for these discovered responsible.
‘The demise penalty is inadmissible as a result of it’s an assault on the inviolability and dignity of the particular person. The widespread good might be safeguarded and the necessities of justice might be met with out recourse to capital punishment: efficient methods of detention have been developed that shield residents whereas on the identical time don’t utterly deprive those that are responsible of the opportunity of redemption. #NoDeathPenalty,’ Pope Leo XIV mentioned in his submit on X.
The Pope’s remarks got here after the US army introduced on Monday that Trump had accredited the execution of Hasan by firing squad, following a advice by US Battle Secretary Pete Hegseth.
In a press release posted on X, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell mentioned, “US Battle Secretary Pete Hegseth has advisable, and President Donald J. Trump has accredited, demise by US Military firing squad for convicted terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan.’
“The Secretary of the Military will set the time and place of the execution. Judgement day for Hasan has lastly come,’ Parnell additional wrote.
Hasan, an Military main, was convicted of killing 13 folks and wounding greater than 30 others in a mass taking pictures at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009. A army jury sentenced him to demise in 2013 following his conviction in reference to the assault.
The taking pictures happened inside a medical constructing on the army set up, which served as a serious staging space for US army personnel making ready for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Twelve of these killed have been troopers, whereas the thirteenth was a civilian. Greater than 30 folks have been wounded within the assault.
Throughout his court-martial, Hasan represented himself, didn’t name witnesses or testify, and didn’t contest the formal costs. His court-appointed defence counsel had beforehand expressed considerations that he was actively pursuing a demise sentence.
Prosecutors argued that the assault was impressed by Al-Qaeda. Proof introduced in the course of the trial confirmed that Hasan opposed US army campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan and had communicated on-line with Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born radical cleric related to Al-Qaeda who was later killed in a US drone strike in Yemen.
If carried out, Hasan’s execution would mark the primary US army execution in a long time. The US army final carried out an execution in 1961, and the firing squad has not been utilized by the army since that 12 months.
Pope Leo XIV’s assertion reiterates the Catholic Church’s opposition to capital punishment, emphasising the safety of human dignity and the opportunity of redemption even for these convicted of significant crimes. (ANI)
