( CNN ) -- A judge has ordered that the beard of Maj. Nidal Hasan , the Army psychiatrist accused of fatally shooting 13 people at Fort Hood , be forcibly shaved ahead of his upcoming military trial , base spokesman Tyler Broadway said Thursday . Col. Gregory Gross issued the order , which will likely trigger an appeal that would further delay a case that has dragged on since the 2009 mass shooting . Hasan 's attorney had filed an appeal when Gross threatened to order the shaving , but the appeals court said it would n't issue a decision until the shaving was actually ordered . Thursday 's order by Gross opens the door for that appeal . The last time he was in court , Hasan told the judge , `` Your honor , in the name of almighty Allah , I am a Muslim . I believe that my religion requires me to wear a beard . '' His defense team argued Hasan should be able to keep his beard under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act , contending that shaving it would leave him in a `` perilous religious state , '' according to a news release from Fort Hood . The defense contends Hasan 's faith is genuine and has gotten stronger in the past year . But government prosecutors argued he should have to shave his beard , saying having it long would make it harder for witnesses to identify him as the shooter in court . They also said that Hasan , by keeping his beard long , is trying to associate himself with radical Islamic fighters known as mujahedeen , the Fort Hood press release said . In his ruling , Gross determined that Hasan can not keep the beard because it violates Army regulations . Even as he awaits trial for murder , Hasan is still an officer in the U.S. Army and subject to regulations . Hasan 's court-martial had been scheduled to start last month at Fort Hood , in Killeen , Texas , where he is accused of wounding 32 in addition to killing 13 people . No further hearings are scheduled in his military trial , according to the Army base . His lawyers can now go to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals , administered by the Judge Advocate General 's Corps . The next step would be the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces , an independent tribunal with worldwide jurisdiction over active-duty members of the U.S. armed forces and others subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice . The District of Columbia-based court is made up of five civilian judges appointed for 15-year terms by the president . Decisions of the court are subject to direct appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court . The full appeals process could delay Hasan 's criminal trial for months if not years . Accused Fort Hood shooter makes first statement in court . CNN 's Bill Mears contributed to this report .
An appeals court previously said it would not hear until after the order was given . He had said , ` ` I believe that my job requires me to wear a beard '' He is accused of killing 13 people and injuring 32 at Fort Hood .