Nidal Hasan beard

The Army psychiatrist who shot up Fort Hood in 2009, killing 13, has been growing a beard of late, which he has claimed is part of his official observance of Islam . . . something that apparently was of little concern in his years in the Army, which forbids beards. Prosecutors have argued that he was growing it to defy Army
regulations and to make himself harder to identify in court.
Not gonna fly.

Col. Gregory Gross issued the official order after a hearing to determine whether a federal religious freedom law applied to Hasan’s case, and triggered another delay in all proceedings related to Hasan’s trial because his attorneys plan to appeal.
Beards are a violation of Army regulations, and soldiers who disobey orders to get rid of facial hair can be shaved against their will. Gross repeatedly has said Hasan’s beard, which he started growing in jail this summer, is a disruption to the court proceedings.
Hasan told the judge last week that he grew a beard because his Muslim faith requires it, not as a show of disrespect. Gross ruled Thursday that the defense didn’t prove Hasan is growing a beard for sincere religious reasons.

There is also serious question among Islamic scholars whether the beard is required, or merely encouraged.
Hasan faces the death penalty.