Australia must intervene over US plans to livestream execution

9 October 2026

Amnesty International Australia calls on the Albanese Government to intervene over US plans to execute Nidal Hasan by firing squad and livestream the execution, following comments by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Kyinzom Dhongdue, Strategic Campaigns and Advocacy Manager at Amnesty International said:

"Pete Hegseth's comments about the planned execution of Nidal Hasan are deeply disturbing. The suggestion that an execution by firing squad should be livestreamed for public viewing is an appalling disregard for human dignity. Turning a state-sanctioned killing into a public spectacle only compounds the cruelty of the death penalty.

"Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases, without exception, regardless of the crime committed. It is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, and a violation of the right to life."

"Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases, without exception, regardless of the crime committed. It is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, and a violation of the right to life.

"Australia has a longstanding commitment to the global abolition of the death penalty. The Albanese Government must uphold that commitment by raising its concerns directly with the United States, urging authorities to halt the execution, commute Hasan's death sentence and abandon plans to broadcast it."

Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all - and we can only do it with your support.

Act now or learn more about our human rights work.