(AP) FORT HOOD, Texas - A military judge says the Army psychiatrist charged in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting rampage must be clean-shaven or will be forcibly shaved before his murder trial.


Col. Gregory Gross issued the official order Thursday after a hearing to determine whether a federal religious freedom law applied to Maj. Nidal Hasan's case.


Hasan says he grew his beard because his Muslim faith requires it. Army regulations ban beards.


Gross ruled the defense didn't prove that Hasan is growing a beard for sincere religious reasons.


Gross also says his order triggers 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 has repeatedly said that Hasan's beard, which he started growing in jail this summer, is a disruption to the court proceedings. Gross has found Hasan in contempt of court at the past six pretrial hearings since he was not clean shaven, then sent him to a nearby trailer to watch the proceedings on a closed-circuit television.


Hasan, 41, is charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder in the November 2009 attack on the Texas Army post.


Hasan told the judge last week that he grew a beard because his Muslim faith requires it, not as a show of disrespect. Hasan previously appealed after Gross said he would order him to be shaved if he did not get rid of the beard himself before the trial. Gross said he wants Hasan in the courtroom during the court-martial to prevent a possible appeal on the issue if he is convicted.


The Army has specific guidelines on forced shaving. A team of five military police officers restrains the inmate "with the reasonable force necessary," and a medical professional is on hand in case of injuries. The shaving must be done with electric clippers and must be videotaped, according to Army rules.


Last week the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces ruled that Hasan's appeal was premature because Gross had not issued a definitive order. The court said Hasan would be able to appeal Gross' order first to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals. That would halt proceedings in the case before he has entered his pleas to any of the charges.


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