U.S. Set for First Public Execution in 90 Years Amid Global Debate
U.S. to livestream execution of Nidal Hasan, marking first public death penalty since 1930s. International backlash over human rights concerns.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — The United States is set to conduct its first public execution in nearly a century when Nidal Hasan is executed by firing squad on December 3, with the event broadcast live.
Hasan, a former Army major, was convicted in 2009 for killing 13 people at Fort Hood. He is paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, and the execution will be carried out by soldiers. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the process should be public to demonstrate the consequences of such crimes.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Only two countries, Afghanistan and Iran, are known to have conducted public executions in recent years, according to Amnesty International. Critics argue that public executions are reminiscent of authoritarian regimes and contradict American values.
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The last known public execution in the U.S. occurred in 1936 when Rainey Bethea was hanged in Owensboro, Kentucky, with an estimated 20,000 spectators. A similar event took place in 1937 in Missouri. Meanwhile, Iran and Afghanistan continue to use public executions as a tool of control, drawing international condemnation.
Amnesty International reported at least 24 public executions in Iran between 2022 and 2025, while Afghanistan has executed at least 12 people since 2022. North Korea also reportedly carries out public executions, though information is scarce due to the country’s isolation. Saudi Arabia has stopped publicly executing individuals but continues to use the death penalty in private.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
