A defense official said Tuesday that the suspect in last week’s deadly shooting spree at Fort Hood urged in 2007 that Muslims in the US Army be allowed to claim conscientious objector status when it comes to fighting other Muslims in war.

The official, who has knowledge of the investigation, added that Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan also discussed religious aspects of Islam during a presentation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as part of a final project for his residency tenure.

At that time, Hasan said, “It’s getting harder and harder for Muslims in the service to morally justify being in a military that seems constantly engaged against fellow Muslims…. Muslims [sic] soldiers should not serve in any capacity that renders them at risk to hurting/killing believers unjustly.”

Hasan is the only suspect in the shooting at the Fort Hood Army post in Texas on Thursday that left 13 people dead and 42 wounded. The dead included 12 soldiers.

(article source: CNN, photo source: Examiner.com)