Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Hasan has written a letter to Pope Francis advocating "jihad,"
Fox News reports.
Fox News obtained a copy of the undated letter from Hasan's lawyer, John Galligan. Hasan instructed Galligan to mail the Vatican the six-page handwritten letter with the title "A Warning To Pope Francis, Members Of The Vatican, And Other Religious Leaders Around the World."
In a section of the letter titled "Jihad," Hasan praises Islamic extremists for their "willingness to fight for All-Mighty Allah." He calls that willingness a test for the "mujahadeen" who "are encouraged to inspire the believers."
He also writes that "fighters … have a greater rank in the eyes of Allah than believers who don’t fight." He describes himself in the letter as an "SoA" or "soldier of Allah."
Fox News said it is the second letter it has obtained written by Hasan. In August, it received a copy of a letter
in which Hasan asked to become a citizen of the Islamic State (ISIS).
According to Fox News, Hasan does not mention the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. The former U.S. Army psychiatrist was convicted in the shooting deaths of 13 people and attempted murder in the wounding of 31 others.
He was not convicted of terrorism, and the government has labeled the incident "workplace violence," even though critics point to signs that Hasan held radical Islamic beliefs.
Hasan's own attorney told Fox News the letter "underscores how much of his life, actions and mental thought process are driven by religious zeal. And it also reinforces my belief that the military judge committed reversible error by prohibiting Major Hasan from both testifying and arguing how his religious beliefs" were motivating factors during the shooting.
Neal Sher, a lawyer for the Fort Hood families, told Fox News Hasan is "thoroughly dedicated to jihad."
"His jihadist leanings and willingness to commit jihad were known for years before the 2009 atrocity" Sher said. "And ever since then, he has made it abundantly clear he believes in jihad and has attempted to justify the slaughter that took place at Fort Hood."
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