Nidal Hasan, a former U.S. Army psychiatrist, who opened fire at Fort Hood in Texas in 2009, has been sentenced to death. This execution is scheduled for December 3, 2025, and according to Peter Hegst, who is responsible for carrying out the sentence, the execution will take place at the same location and time as the shooting. This incident is considered the first public execution in America after several decades and raises serious questions about its implications and comparisons with similar methods in other countries, particularly Iran and Afghanistan.
Public Executions in Iran and Afghanistan
Currently, only two countries in the world systematically carry out public executions: Iran and Afghanistan. According to recent reports, in 2025, the Taliban carried out six public executions, and the Tehran regime recorded 11 public executions. Last April, the Taliban executed four men accused of murder by gunfire in public stadiums across three different cities. Such executions were also common during the Taliban's rule in the late 1990s, and they claimed that a fair judicial process was conducted.
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Consequences of Public Executions
Public executions have historically been carried out in various societies for different purposes. Some legal experts and historians believe that these types of executions can serve as a tool for governments to garner public support and instill fear among the populace. In Iran, approximately 30 public executions have been reported over the past five years, and this trend has increased in recent months, especially following widespread unrest and the war with the U.S. and Israel. Additionally, many executions in Iran have been carried out using cranes as a virtual gallows.
Saudi Arabia appears to have halted this practice after decades of public executions. In the past, the country executed convicted criminals in public squares in Riyadh and some other cities. However, it seems that this method has come to an end.
Given the rising trend of executions in various countries, in 2025, Amnesty International recorded 2,707 executions, the highest global number since 1981. This increase is primarily related to the high number of executions in Iran and somewhat reflects the use of capital punishment as a tool for social control and a display of state power.
Nidal Hasan may still file an appeal in the federal civil judicial system, which could delay the execution for years. The dimensions and implications of public execution in America and its comparison with other countries are significant issues in the realm of human rights and social policymaking.
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