Fort Hood Shooting Tragedy Condemned by Muslims

by Sheila Musaji

Note:  Updates at bottom of page

INITIAL REPORTS November 5:

The primary shooter in the disgusting attack at Fort Hood has been identified as Maj. Malik Nadal Hasan, who was an Army doctor and Psychiatrist.  He had recently received orders to ship overseas.  He has been killed and two other so far unidentified suspects have been arrested.  It is unclear as to whether or not there was more than one shooter, or how the other two were involved. (The name has now been corrected - it is Nidal Malik Hasan).  So far the reports say that there are twelve dead and either 31 or 37 wounded in this terrible tragedy.  There is a lot of confusion in what is being reported.

At this point in time, I can’t even get my mind around what could have been going through the mind of this individual.  Some reports are saying that Maj. Hasan was a Muslim, some noting that his name is Arabic - but they don’t know yet if he was a Muslim, some that he was a convert from Virginia.  Nothing definite known yet.  No matter who he was, what he has done is despicable.  My heart goes out to the families of the victims, and to the family of the perpetrator.  There is little more known at this time (11/5 6 p.m. central), but will update as more information comes in.

As Aziz Poonawalla has pointed out: “There simply is no information yet about what Hasan’s motives were, or whether Hasan is indeed muslim or not. Of course, that last bit of information is the one that everyone will want to know about the most, even though in a fundamental sense it matters the least.”

And, as Robert Salaam reminds us:  “They have not yet released further details such as the motive but I will state for the record that no true Muslim could ever commit such a crime against humanity.  As Muslims we are reminded that to take one innocent life is as if one killed of all mankind.  Muslims are also commanded to keep their oaths when given.  That said as an American Muslim who like hundreds of thousands of other American’s, including Muslims, is serving or have served in America’s armed forces and kept their oaths to God, Country, and in my case Corps, condemn these actions and pray for the victims of this madman.”

All we can do for now is pray for the families of all of those involved, and if we live close to the area donate blood or whatever may help the survivors.  Dr. Hesham Hassaballa put it very well:  “My heart, my thoughts, and my prayers go out to the families of the brave soldiers who died at the hands of this barbaric murderer. Their sacrifice and loss is no less noble, no less important, no less appreciated than the loss of a fellow American in battle overseas. As a parent who has lost his own child, I know far too well the pain of the parents right now who have come to the horrific realization that they will outlive their child. May God be with them all.”

STATEMENTS ISSUED BY MUSLIM ORGANIZATIONS:

ISNA:  “The Islamic Society of North America condemns in the strongest terms the attack on soldiers at Fort Hood, resulting in the murder of at least a dozen soldiers and the wounding of many others.  We express our deepest condolences to the victims and their families.    Although many details of the shooting are unknown at this time, it appears that the attack was led by a career soldier, Major Nidal Malik Hasan. The soldier who led this attack was either mentally unstable, or was motivated by a perverted ideology for which there can be no justification.    ISNA is proud of the many Muslim men and women who serve loyally in the United States military.  We are grateful for the sacrifices made by all US soldiers, who represent the religious, racial and ethnic diversity of America, to defend the Constitution and our national security. ISNA, a faith endorser of US Muslim military chaplains, is proud of the service they provide, offering comfort and support to people of all faiths and beliefs. Just today, ISNA’s chaplain endorser, Dr. Louay Safi, conducted a workshop at the US army base in Fort Bliss, Texas.”

CAIR: “We condemn this cowardly attack in the strongest terms possible and ask that the perpetrators be punished to the full extent of the law. No religious or political ideology could ever justify or excuse such wanton and indiscriminate violence. The attack was particularly heinous in that it targeted the all-volunteer army that protects our nation. American Muslims stand with our fellow citizens in offering both prayers for the victims and sincere condolences to the families of those killed or injured.”

MPAC:  “MPAC and the Muslim American community unequivocally condemn this heinous incident.  We share the sentiment of our President, who called the Fort Hood attack “a horrific outburst of violence.”  We are in contact with law enforcement and US federal government officials to gain more facts from this tragic incident and work together in dealing its aftermath.  Our entire organization extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed as well as to those wounded and their loved ones,” said Salam Al-Marayati, Executive Director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. We stand in solidarity with law enforcement and the US military to maintain the safety and security of all Americans.”

The ADC:  “The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is appalled by the attack that took place earlier today against soldiers and others at Fort Hood, Texas. Preliminary news reports have indicated that a rogue Army Major Malik Hasan and two others shot and killed at least 12 people and injured numerous others.  ADC President Mary Rose Oakar said, “This attack is absolutely deplorable. ADC has been consistent and on record in condemning any attacks aimed at innocents, no matter who the victims or the perpetrators may be.  Such violence is morally reprehensible and has nothing to do with any religion, race, ethnicity, or national origin.  ADC urges the FBI and law enforcement agencies to make every effort to see that justice is served.” Oakar continued, “ADC also calls upon law enforcement agencies to provide immediate protection for all Mosques, community centers, schools, and any locations that may be identified or misidentified with being Arab, Muslim, South Asian or Sikh as a clear backlash has already started.  The actions of a few should not invite a backlash on innocent members of any community and we urge law enforcement and others to keep that in mind. “

AMAF &VAC  The American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council The American Muslim Armed Forces and Veteran Affairs Councail (AMAF and VAC) condemns in the strongest terms the attack on soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas resulting in the murder of at least a dozen soldiers and the wounding of many others.  We express our deepest condolences to the victims and their families.  We join the Community of Fort Hood, Texas in their mourning.  Islam holds the human soul in high esteem, and considers the attack against innocent human beings a grave sin.  This is a criminal act that is now best dealt with by the law enforcement community.  The American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council (AMAF and VAC) is a not for profit, non-political, independent American based organization.  AMAF and VAC was established to serve the spiritual needs and religious welfare of Muslims who serve or have served in the United States Armed Forces, their dependents, as well as veterans. This encompasses all branches of the US Military, including the US Coast Guard.

UMAA The Universal Muslim Association of America: “UMAA strongly and categorically condenmns the heinous attack of a deranged individual in the name of Islam, at Ft.Hood Army Base.  We pray for the families of the victims and the departed souls.  No religion teaches any sort of violence against innocent civilians. The perpetrators of these vicious attacks have no semblance of being Muslims and do not belong to any civilized society.  UMAA beleives that the responsible individuals should be punished to the fullest extent of law.”

APAAM The Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in the Military:  “At a time of deep sorrow in the midst of this horrific tragedy, our thoughts are first and foremost with the Fort Hood shooting victims and their families. One can only imagine the unspeakable pain and loss they are and will be dealing with in the weeks, months and years to come.    It is unfortunate that whatever demons possessed Nidal Hasan, that he chose to deal with his problems in this way.    In the aftermath of this terrible tragedy, it is more important than ever that we not make the same scapegoating and broad stroke mistakes that were evident in the aftermath of previous tragedies.    The Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in Military urges the media, government officials and all of our fellow Americans to recognize that the actions of Hasan are those of a deranged gunman, and are in no way representative of the wider Arab American or American Muslim community.    In fact, thousands of Arab Americans and American Muslims serve honorably everyday in all four branches of the U.S. military and in the National Guard. Additionally, many of us have willingly stepped forward to fulfill our duty with our fellow soldiers in both Afghanistan, Iraq and other locations around the globe for the defense of our national security, including most of the member of APAAM. Indeed, many of us are today currently deployed in both countries, honorably serving each and every day.

MAS The Muslim American Society:  ”“As an organization and as Muslim Americans, we stand in condemnation of Thursday’s assault in the strongest terms possible,” echoed MAS Freedom Executive Director, Mahdi Bray Thursday evening at a press conference in Washington, D.C. “Let us be cautious, however, in drawing conclusions based on the ethnicity of the perpetrator of this tragic incident. A full investigation, is, of course, underway; however, as in any case, the perpetuation of negativity in such instances often unwittingly serves as an equally unnecessary exacerbation of the atmosphere of hate, violence and Islamophia under which the Muslim community already exists.  Indeed this is a national tragedy and our American family is in mourning. Like any family in a time of crisis and tragedy, we will not turn on each other, but rather, toward each other as a source of strength and comfort.”

The Arab American Institute:  “We at the Arab American Institute are horrified by this tragic and senseless act of violence committed by a disturbed individual. We grieve with the families of those who died and those who were wounded. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”

The Congress of Arab-American Organizations:  “Arab Americans are as devastated about those killed and wounded and their families as all other Americans are.  We stand with President Obama in condemning this horrific incidence of violence.  We ask all to remember that when people commit crimes, they do so not because of their religion or culture, but in spite of their religious and cultural upbringing.” Osama Siblani, spokesman.

The American Society of Muslim Advancement:  “American Society of Muslim Advancement, its staff and supporters extends its heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of victims of the Ford Hood tragedy. We pray for the souls of those who lives were ended so abruptly and extend our heartfelt prayers to friends, colleagues and families who are affected by this senseless tragedy.  Our President called the Fort Hood attack “a horrific outburst of violence.” We American Muslims are shocked and outraged by such an outburst of violence from a fellow Muslim. This tragic and senseless violence is antithetical to our Islamic faith which promotes compassion and respect for life. Even though the perpetrator may have been under an inordinate amount of stress, in no way does that justify this horrific crime. Some reports suggest there may be several factors at play but as American Muslims we assert that in no way does Islam teach or condone this kind of crime.  We are confident that our fellow Americans will exercise restraint by not linking this tragic action of a Muslim identified individual with the faith of Islam.”

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago  “Earlier yesterday a United States officer in the military identified as Army Major Malik Hasan reportedly shot and killed 12 American soldiers and wounded 31 others at Fort Hood in Texas.  The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago strongly denounces this senseless attack at Fort Hood and expresses its heart-felt condolences and prayers of support to for the families of the victims and for the injured veterans.  In this time of tragedy, CIOGC calls on Americans of all walks of life to unite in standing by the families of the deceased and offering aid and comfort to all those directly affected including donating blood to the dozens injured and currently hospitalized.”

Islamic Networks Group (ING):  “We condemn this heinous attack on fellow Americans that has taken the lives and injured so many. We urge and support law enforcement in their investigation and prosecution of this criminal act to the full extent of the law. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the victims, their families, and the entire local and national community. While the motive behind this shocking attack is still unclear, we strongly assert that such actions have no place, no validity and no support in our society and community and we categorically abhor and reject such senseless violence, which cannot be justified by any motivation. ING stands with fellow Americans in supporting and praying for the victims and their families.”

Not only have national and regional Muslim organizations issued statements, but local organizations have also done so.  “We at the Muslim Alliance of Indiana along with Muslim Hoosiers across the state would like to express our deep shock and regret over the tragic incidents in Fort Hood Texas. As American Muslims, we are terribly saddened and hurt by the cruel and unthinking loss of life experienced by those that are fighting for our nation.  The soldiers of Fort Hood represent those that are giving most to protect our country and we grieve with them for their loss today.  We also want to reiterate that Islam never condones violence and as Muslims we are deeply revolted by the actions of the shooter. At no point should the dastardly acts of the shooter be considered an expression of the Islamic faith or Muslims both of whom unequivocally and wholeheartedly condemn this act.  We ask that the perpetrators be punished to the fullest extent of the law.  We urge Muslim Hoosiers to come forward and help military families in this, their time of need.  As Muslim Hoosiers we are proud of our soldiers and the incredible sacrifices they make for our country.  The Islamic Society of Great Oklahoma City:  “The attack was particularly heinous in that it targeted the all-volunteer army that protects our nation.  American Muslims stand with our fellow citizens in offering both prayers for the victims and sincere condolences to the families of those killed or injured.”  The Islamic Center of America in Michigan issued a statement: “This inexcusable act of violence must not be tolerated, and the perpetrators should be held accountable for their crime.  Islam in no way accepts such violence and terror. Islam is a peaceful religion with great reverence for human life. Those who perform such acts do not represent the faith of Islam, nor the Muslim American Community.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims, and our fellow citizens who are suffering.” 

National Muslim and Arab organizations are concerned about a possible backlash and urging Muslims, Arabs, and anyone who might be perceived as such (e.g. Sikhs and South Asians) to be cautious.  CAIR has said: “Unfortunately, based on past experience, we also urge American Muslims, and those who may be perceived to be Muslim, to take appropriate precautions to protect themselves, their families and their religious institutions from possible backlash.  We ask that individuals and institutions review advice on security procedures contained in CAIR’s ‘Muslim Community Safety Kit,’ which is available online at http://www.cair.com/ActionCenter/CommunityToolKit.aspx ”  The ADC has said:  ”“ADC also calls upon law enforcement agencies to provide immediate protection for all Mosques, community centers, schools, and any locations that may be identified or misidentified with being Arab, Muslim, South Asian or Sikh as a clear backlash has already started.  The actions of a few should not invite a backlash on innocent members of any community and we urge law enforcement and others to keep that in mind.  Additionally, due to these tragic developments, ADC is releasing the following advisory statement to members of the Arab, Muslim, South Asian, and Sikh American communities. ADC feels it prudent to issue this advisory statement due to the potential of a backlash against these communities and given the historically documented acts of hate-motivated violence including vandalism against these communities.  ADC would like to emphasize that it is issuing this advisory based on experiences in the community in recent years, and purely as a precautionary measure. ADC presents these suggestions for the consideration of the Arab, Muslim, South Asian, and Sikh American communities, to be evaluated by each family and individual according to their own best judgment and in the context of their own situation and relationship with their local community.”  Suggestions are available on the ADC site at http://www.adc.org/index.php?id=3518

STATEMENTS ISSUED BY NON-MUSLIM ORGANIZATIONS:

The Sikh American Legal Defense Fund issued a statement:  “Our national Sikh organizations offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed and wounded in the acts of violence at Fort Hood, Texas yesterday that left 13 dead and 31 wounded.  We unequivocally condemn the actions of the alleged assailant.  We are united in concern and sympathy for the victims and their families, and for the community at Fort Hood.  We urge community members to explore how they can provide support and resources to address the impact of this violence.  As Sikhs, we are regrettably aware that, in the past, similar tragedies have led to the scapegoating of entire communities based on actual or perceived ethnicity, religion, and national origin.  We call on political leaders, the media, and the public to set a tone of unity as the investigation unfolds and the healing process begins.”  They also issued a safety alert for their community, who have in the past been the target of reprisals because people associated a turban and beard with Muslims.

Mikey Weinstein, the founder and president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, weighed in on the shooting rampage at Fort Hood.  Weinstein called upon President Obama to immediately issue a statement as Commander-in-Chief making it clear that there would be a zero tolerance policy against any member of the US military “inflicting harassments, retribution or reprisal against an Islamic member of the US military.”  President Obama issued a statement earlier Thursday condemning the shootings.  Weinstein, whose civil rights organization was recently nominated for the 2010 Nobel Peace prize, said Obama must state, unequivocally, that the US does not judge the worth of a “service member based on his or her religious faith.”  Weinstein’s group has exposed the meteroric rise of fundamentalist Christianity within the US military and has called attention to the fact that military personnel have sought to cast the war in Iraq and Afghanistan as a crusade between Christianity and Islam.  Weinstein, an honor graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, former White House counsel during the Reagan administration and former General Counsel to H. Ross Perot, said religious intolerance within the military is widespread and continues to get worse. ...  Weinstein noted that MRFF has about 18 active cases at Fort Hood involving soldiers who allege they have been subjected to non-stop fundamentalist Christian proselytization.  “Fort Hood is one of our worst hot spots of the nearly 1,000 US military installations scattered around the world in approximately 132 countries,” Weinstein said. “We’ve had a particular problem with the public elementary school that’s actually situated on the installation where children of soldiers have been continuously proselytized to.”  Maj. Hasan, according to the New York Times, had allegedly been harassed by fellow soldiers because he was Muslim.  “It’s obviously too early to know what all the salient facts are,” Weinstein said. “But MRFF is the only subject matter expert on planet earth that can speak authoritatively with regard to the effects that religious persecution has on members of the US military, particularly those of minority faiths like Islam. It would absolutely strain credulity to presume that this clearly sick perpetrator’s actions had nothing at all to do with the fact that his faith may possibly have been Islamic.”  Full report at http://www.truthout.org/topstories/110509vh09

UPDATES November 6

Wajahat Ali notes in The Guardian:  “Ultimately, this use – or misuse – of fear and rumour over Hasan’s Islamic faith should be moot in light of the record of the thousands of Muslim American soldiers who have served and made sacrifice – such as Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, awarded the prestigious Purple Heart and Bronze Star and praised by Colin Powell, who now rests in Arlington cemetery after giving his life to protect and serve his country in Iraq. There are currently 20,000 Muslims serving with honour in the US military, according to the American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council. If Hasan’s faith is ultimately proven to be the misguided inspiration for his violence, then the brave and patriotic service of thousands of Muslim American soldiers renders him an isolated and aberrant exception.”

It has been announced that there will be a press conference today to denounce this shooting:  “The Muslim Public Affairs Council, Islamic Society of North America, and the American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council will hold a press conference on Friday morning in response to the fatal shootings at Fort Hood Army Base in Texas. Congressmen Andre Carson (D-IN) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) will join the organizations at the press conference, which will be held at the United Methodist Building in Washington, DC.  The organizations today expressed their shock and condemnation of the senseless and appalling act of violence. All three organizations unequivocally denounce the incident in the strongest terms possible and offer their deepest condolences and prayers to the victims and their loved ones.”

Jason Leopold reports that Malik Nadal Hasan is alive and in stable condition in the hospital, and not dead as previously reported.  This news report includes a video from CNN of a statement to this effect by Lt. Gen. Robert Cone at Fort Hood.  This has now been reported at The Guardian, the New York Times and by other trusted news sources.  The New York Times reports that Maj. Hasan was to be deployed to Afghanistan and this article notes that: “Fox News quoted a retired Army colonel, Terry Lee, as saying that Major Hasan, with whom he worked, had voiced hope that President Obama would pull American troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, had argued with military colleagues who supported the wars and had tried to prevent his own deployment.”

It seems that much of what we are hearing in the news media coverage is conjecture, and I would appeal to everyone to resist forming any conclusions until all the facts are in.  As Glenn Greenwald has pointed out:  “But shouldn’t there be some standards governing what gets reported and what is held back?  Particularly in a case like this—which, for obvious reasons, has the potential to be quite inflammatory on a number of levels—having the major media “report” completely false assertions as fact can be quite harmful.  It’s often the case that perceptions and judgments about stories like this solidify in the first few hours after one hears about it.  The impact of subsequent corrections and clarifications pale in comparison to the impressions that are first formed.  Despite that, one false and contradictory claim after the next was disseminated last night by the establishment media with regard to the core facts of the attack.” ...  “The problem, though, is that huge numbers of people aren’t ignoring it.  They’re paying close attention—and they’re paying the closest attention, and forming their long-term views, in the initial stages of the reporting.  Many people will lose their interest once the drama dissolves—i.e., once the actual facts emerge.  Put another way, a large segment of conventional wisdom solidifies based on misleading and patently false claims coming from major media outlets.  I don’t know exactly how to define what the balance should be, but particularly for politically explosive stories like this one, it seems clear that media outlets ought to exercise far more restraint and fact-checking rigor than they do.  As it is, it’s an orgy of rumor-mongering, speculation and falsehoods that play a very significant role in shaping public perceptions and enabling all sorts of ill-intentioned exploitation.”

Nader Hasan, a cousin of Maj. Hasan has issued a statement on behalf of the Hasan family:  “As Nidal Hasan’s first cousin, and because his parents are no longer alive, I wanted to issue a statement on behalf of my family. We are shocked and saddened by the terrible events at Fort Hood today. We send the families of the victims our most heartfelt sympathies.    We, like most of America, know very few details at this time. Here is what we do know about our cousin. Nidal was an American citizen. He was born in Arlington, Virginia, and raised here in America. He attended local high schools and eventually went on to attend Virginia Tech.    We are filled with grief for the families of today’s victims. Our family loves America. We are proud of our country, and saddened by today’s tragedy. Because this situation is still unfolding, we have nothing else that we are able to share with you at this time.”

NPR reports that: “A senior U.S. official told The Associated Press that investigators have not ruled out the possibility that some casualties may have been victims of “friendly fire,” shot by authorities amid the mayhem and confusion at the scene.”

The Washington Post reports that: “Imam Mohamed Magid of the large Northern Virginia mosque ADAMS (All Dulles Area Muslim Society) announced his group would be collecting donations from Muslim Americans for the victims of the shootings. He said the groups were trying to emphasize that Islam doesn’t condone random violence. “You do this, you go to hell. You don’t go to paradise.” Asked whether other Muslim Americans could identify with the shooter’s apparent anxiety about being deployed to Afghanistan, Magid said “if you look at who has refused to go [to Afghanistan and Iraq], you’ll find not only Muslims. And you will find thousands of Muslim Americans fighting.” f

Andrew Sullivan notes:  ”...It’s a tragic massacre in the first place. It will doubtless increase suspicion of Muslim servicemembers, which in turn propels more religious polarization, which makes winning this war harder still. You can instantly see how the Malkins will spin this, and how a war on American Muslims can get jump-started in America.    The danger of this war on terror, it turns out, is that it not only collapses when it hits the ground in Muslim countries - as the sheer impossibility of using force to control Islamism in Iraq and Afghanistan reveals itself - but that its religious nature can divide the West as well, rendering a minority suspect and further undermining the chances of a multi-faith democracy successfully fighting a religious war without succumbing to more primal identities. Every which way, Osama wins.”

According to the Wall Street Journal: “Army officials at the Pentagon said that Muslim soldiers who felt their religion prevented them from fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan could claim conscientious objector status and seek noncombat assignments in the U.S. But they weren’t aware of any Muslim soldiers who had done so.”

UPDATES November 7, 2009

An imam at the mosque Hasan attended in Killeen, Texas - Osman Danqua has told a reporter that Maj. Hasan had come to him a few months ago to talk about concerns that he was conflicted between his faith and his allegiance to the military.  According to an article in USA Today, Hasan asked Danqua: “If soldiers come to me and have problems fighting other Muslims, what do I tell them?” ... “Hasan also asked about soldiers changing their minds after joining the military and inquired about other members of the congregation. His line of questioning sounded so disjointed, however, that Danquah said Saturday he suspected Hasan might be a federal agent trying to infiltrate the mosque. I told him, ‘There’s something wrong with you, and if you’re here to gather information, we’re not here to do anything against the government. We’re here to worship,’” Danquah said.”

Maj. Hasan’s uncle in Palestine told an LA Times reporter that Maj. Hasan:  ”...spoke to his uncle of ethnic taunts by Army colleagues. He was haunted by the wartime disabilities of soldiers he treated as an Army psychiatrist, Hamad recalled, and was overwhelmed by a growing caseload he felt unable to manage.” ... ““The whole family is in a state of denial,” Hamad said today. “We don’t believe he is capable of doing something like that. I was amazed and shocked, because it’s not him. He’s very quiet, gentle.  Maybe it built up together—the harassment, too many patients, the workload, the tragedies his patients brought to him,” said the 65-year-old retired real estate broker. “Whatever it was, it must have been big pressure, something terrible he couldn’t handle.”

According to the Christian Science Monitor: “There are 408 psychiatrists in the Army, including nearly 300 civilians and civilian contractors, according to Army officials in Washington, for 550,000 active duty soldiers.”

What we now know.  There are 13 dead and 38 wounded in a shooting attack at Fort Hood, TX.  Major Nidal Malik Hasan a physician and psychiatrist appears to have been the single shooter. He is in the hospital in stable condition.  The attack went on for about 10 minutes and 100 shots were fired.  He was eventually brought down by four shots from the weapon of civilian police Sgt. Kimberly Munley.  He carried two guns, but only one gun was used in the shooting.

Maj. Hasan was born and raised in Virginia to Palestinian immigrant parents.  He joined the Army right after high school.  He served eight years as an enlisted soldier during which time he studied at Barstow Community College in California and Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, where he earned an associate degree in science in 1992.  He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1995, receiving a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry with honors and minors in biology and chemistry.  His father died in 1998, his mother in 2001.  He entered the Bethesda campus of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in 1997 and graduated in 2003 as a medical doctor.  For seven years from 2003 through this summer, was an intern, a resident and then a fellow at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. caring for trauma victims.  He completed a residency in psychiatry at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington in 2007 and a fellowship in disaster and preventive psychiatry in 2009.  While at Walter Reed he had some difficulties that required that he receive counseling.  He was promoted to the rank of Major in May 2009 even though he had had a recent poor performance review from Walter Reed.  He was transferred to Fort Hood in July 2009. He had retained a lawyer to help him get out of the military.  In August 2009 he walked into Guns Galore near Fort Hood and spent $1,000 on a high-powered, Belgian-made semi-automatic pistol.  (Times Online) According to the military he was carrying two guns, but this was the only one he used.  He was due to be deployed to Afghanistan in November and had expressed concerns about this.  For the past few years he had been asking to be let out of his military duty.  People who knew him never saw him as violent, but as quiet and somewhat isolated.  He was a religious man who attended the local mosque regularly both in Maryland and in Texas.  He gave away most of his possessions to neighbors before the incident, telling them that he was being deployed.  He was never married and had no children. 

SEE ALSO
(those names underlined signify that the article was written by a Muslim or Arab)
A bad man, not a bad religion, Cynthia Tucker http://blogs.ajc.com/cynthia-tucker/2009/11/06/a-bad-man-not-a-bad-religion/?cxntfid=blogs_cynthia_tucker
A media orgy of rumors, speculation and falsehoods about Fort Hood shooting, Glenn Greenwald http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2009/11/06/reporting/index.html
A Muslim Soldier’s View from Fort Hood, Kamran Pasha  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kamran-pasha/a-muslim-soldiers-view-fr_b_348973.html&cp
A spiritual jihad against terrorism, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_spiritual_jihad_against_terrorism_part_i/ 
American Guy Fawkes Strikes Fort Hood, Ali Eteraz http://trueslant.com/alieteraz/2009/11/05/american-guy-fawkes-strikes-fort-hood/
American Muslim Armed Forces and Veteran Affairs Council http://www.amafandvac.org/cms/?q=taxonomy/term/6
Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in the Military http://www.apaam.org/ 
Black Ops and Fort Hood, Jayne Lyn Stahl http://www.counterpunch.org/stahl11062009.html
Caution America—The Vast Majority of Muslim Soldiers Serve With Distinction, Geraldo Rivera http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/11/06/geraldo-rivera-ft-hood-hasan-murder-muslim/
The Collateral Damage to Muslims, Reihan Salam http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-11-06/the-collateral-damage-to-muslims/?cid=hp:mainpromo3
Crescents among the crosses, Shahed Amanullah http://blog.beliefnet.com/progressiverevival/2008/10/crescents-among-the-crosses.html 
Details on Maj. Hasan’s background http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33722143/ns/us_news-tragedy_at_fort_hood/
Don’t ask me about Hasan, Jamal Dajani http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamal-dajani/dont-ask-me-about-hasan_b_348695.html
Don’t look for complex motives behind Fort Hood shootings, Jacquielynn Floyd http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/jfloyd/stories/110709dnmetfloyd.28e4e9019.html
Focusing on Ft. Hood Killer’s Beliefs Are an Easy Out to Avoid the Deeper Reasons for the Massacre, Mark Ames http://www.alternet.org/media/143779/focusing_on_ft._hood_killer’s_beliefs_are_an_easy_out_to_avoid_the_deeper_reasons_for_the_massacre?comments=view&cID=1359994&pID=1359902 
Fort Hood and the Prophetic IF, Rabbi Arthur Waskow http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/fort_hood_and_the_prophetic_if/0017714
Fort Hood has enough victims already, Wajahat Ali http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/nov/06/fort-hood-shootings-hasan-muslim
Fort Hood Killings: No Safe Place from Invisible Wounds of War, Christine Pelosi http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-pelosi/fort-hood-killings-no-saf_b_348327.html&cp
Fort Hood shooter attacked Muslims, too, Muqtedar Khan  http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/11/fort_hood_shooter_attacked_muslims_too.html
Fort Hood Suspect May Have Suffered From ‘Compassion Fatigue,’ Experts Say, Karlie Pouliot http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,572625,00.html
The Fort Hood Tragedy: Fanning the Anti-Muslim Hysteria, Wajahat Ali http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wajahat-ali/the-fort-hood-tragedy-fan_b_348130.html&cp
The Fort Hood Shooting, Robert Salaam  http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_fort_hood_shooting/0017713
Fort Hood shooting poses complications for Muslims in the military http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-muslimvets_07met.ART.State.Edition1.4b8e1aa.html
Fox News Host Slanders Muslim Soldiers by Association With Ft. Hood Shooter http://washingtonindependent.com/66960/fox-news-host-slanders-muslim-soldiers-by-association-with-ft-hood-shooter
Horror at Fort Hood Inspires Horribly Predictable Islamophobia , John Nichols http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/493148/tragedy_at_fort_hood_muslim_bashing_on_fox
Interviews with Muslims in the military - Military Service A Challenge For Muslim Americans, Liz Halloran http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120185651
Is Fort Hood a Harbinger? Nidal Malik Hasan May Be a Symptom of a Military on the Brink?, Andrew Bast http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thehumancondition/archive/2009/11/06/is-fort-hood-a-harbinger-nidal-malik-hasan-may-be-a-symptom-of-a-military-on-the-brink.aspx
Islam under fire in Texas army shooting, Marijke Peters http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/islam-under-fire-texas-army-shooting
Islamic Terrorism?, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamic_terrorism1/
Islamophobia and Arabophobia: Laying The Groundwork - Us vs. Them, Sheila Musaji  http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamophobia_laying_the_groundwork_us_vs_them/0016128
Many Issues With Tragedy at Ft. Hood—A “Muslim Problem” not One of Them, FOX News, Jon Soltz http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-soltz/many-issues-with-tragedy_b_348876.html&cp
Mass Killers and Media, Dr. Aslam Abdullah http://www.iviews.com/Articles/articles.asp?ref=IV0911-3983
Motivations Vary for Soldier-on-Soldier Attacks, Peter Spiegel http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125747329997532771.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories 
Motives For Military Post Shooting Remain Unclear, NPR http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120159765&ps=cprs
The murderer at Fort Hood, Eboo Patel http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/eboo_patel/2009/11/the_murderer_at_fort_hood.html#more
Muslim image campaigns suffer after Fort Hood shootings, Haya El Nasser http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-11-06-muslim-image-campaigns_N.htm
Muslim Population in the Military Raises Difficult Issues http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125755853525335343.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories
Muslims & Arabs in the U.S. Military - TAM article collection http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslims_in_the_military/
Muslims at Fort Hood Voice Outrage and Ask Questions http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/us/07muslim.html
Muslims condemn violent acts at Fort Hood and offer condolences, Daisy Khan http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/daisy_khan/2009/11/muslims_condemn_violent_acts_at_fort_hood_and_offer_their_condolences.html
Never Let The Hatred Of A People Towards You…, Dr. Hesham Hassaballa http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/never_let_the_hatred_of_a_people_towards_you/0017715 
Nidal Hasan, Andrew Sullivan http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/11/nidal-hasan.html
Nidal Malik Hasan case: Are Army psychiatrists overwhelmed?, Gordon Nubold http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1106/p02s13-usmi.html
Nidal Malik Hasan, Suspected Fort Hood Shooter, Was Called “Camel Jockey” http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/nidal-malik-hasan-wanted-army-family/story?id=9008184
One man’s actions will affect loyal US Muslims, Robert Salaam  http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/robert-salaam-one-manrsquos-actions-will-affect-loyal-us-muslims-1816485.html
Prayers for Fort Hood Tonight, Arsalan Iftikhar http://trueslant.com/arsalaniftikhar/2009/11/05/prayers-for-fort-hood-tonight/
Rampage kills 12, wounds 31, Peter Slevin http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/05/AR2009110503467.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR
Right-wing media respond to Fort Hood shooting by attacking American Muslims http://mediamatters.org/research/200911060032
Senseless shootings violate Islamic faith, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf http://www.huffingtonpost.com/imam-feisal-abdul-rauf/senseless-shootings-viola_b_348874.html
Shock and Anger at the Ft. Hood Rampage, Hasan Zillur Rahim  http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/shock_and_anger_at_the_ft_hood_rampage/0017716
Statement from Hasan family http://voices.washingtonpost.com/livecoverage/2009/11/hasan_family_statement_we_are.html
Suspect Was ‘Mortified’ About Deployment, James Dao http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/us/06suspect.html?_r=2&hp
Treachery at Fort Hood, Shahed Amanullah http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/d/3393
Updates on Fort Hood tragedy, NPR http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/11/latest_from_fort_hood_on_killi.html
Victims of Fort Hood, Bob Owens http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-victims-of-fort-hood/2/
Was Fort Hood Shooter Taking Army-Administered Medication? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/06/fort-hood-shooting-provok_n_348740.html&cp
What’s in a name?, Megan Garber http://www.iviews.com/Articles/articles.asp?ref=IV0911-3982
WND falsely claimed alleged Fort Hood shooter “advised Obama transition” http://mediamatters.org/research/200911060011
Worst fears materialized, Hesham Hassaballa http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/religion_theseeker/2009/11/hesham-hassaballa-worst-fears-materialized.html

Muslims must do their part to ensure the safety and security of our nation. If anyone notes suspicious persons or activities in their community, they should report it immediately to the local Field Office of the FBI. SEE: http://www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.htm