In the Taipei Detention Center, the place where the death sentence was carried out was called the "iron room", and the room was pitch black, except for a statue of the Jizo King Bodhisattva hanging at the door.
Moments before the execution, the prisoner usually prays to the Buddha in front of the statue of King Jizo Bodhisattva, and then enters the tin room to be executed.
Before the execution, the execution officer will give the death row prisoner numb, why is that?
1. Preparations for death row inmates before they are brought to the execution ground.
Before the execution of an execution, the detention center usually notifies the death row inmate of the execution date one month in advance and prepares their last meal.
This meal is often called a "respect meal", also known as a "comfort meal" in Taiwan, and since this meal is for death row inmates, the menu usually includes the condemned inmate's favorite, and the portion will be sufficient.
While the death row inmates are eating, the staff of the detention center will accompany them to chat and give them final psychological counseling.
After eating, the death row inmate will be taken to the tin room for final preparations, which are mainly to help the death row inmate better accept death.
This preparation is not only for psychological comfort, but also so that the death row inmates will not show too much panic in the last moments.
Before entering the execution ground, death row inmates usually worship in front of the statue of King Jizo Bodhisattva, and then enter the tin room to be executed.
King Jizo Bodhisattva is the protector god of Buddhism and the judge of the underworld.
In Buddhism, the Jizo King is responsible for saving the souls of the dead, and death row inmates will worship in front of the statue of the Jizo King before the execution of the death penalty to pray for the Buddha's blessing and rebirth.
The death row inmate is then taken to the tin room, which is a very small room in which it is pitch black and only has a dim light, where the death row inmate will make his final psychological adjustments.
There is also a statue of King Jizo Bodhisattva hanging in the tin room, which is to allow the death row inmates to have a glimmer of hope in their hearts when facing death, and also to allow the death row inmates to accept death psychologically.
In the tin room, the death row inmates would practice shooting with a wooden stick, so that the death row inmates could stand still during the execution and not scream in pain when they were shot.
Before the execution, the death row inmates will also see their families for the last time, and the detention center will also prepare some paper money for the death row inmates, so that the death row inmates can take it to the underworld and burn it to their relatives.
2. Why are death row inmates given numbing before executions?
Carrying out a death penalty may seem simple, but the rigor of the legal process and the professionalism of the executor are crucial.
An important part of the execution is to give the death row prisoner an anesthetic, so that the death row prisoner will not feel pain during the execution.
So why give numbing to death row inmates before they are shot?
In ancient times, executions were usually carried out by beheading, and at the time of beheading, death row prisoners often struggled and wailed in pain, which brought a lot of psychological distress to the executors at that time.
So later, people developed a safer way to carry out the death penalty, and that was to shoot it.
Not only is it safe to be shot, but it also allows the death row inmate to lose consciousness in the shortest possible time, which can reduce the suffering of the death row inmate.
However, there is also a problem with the method of execution, that is, at the time of execution, it is difficult for the executive to guarantee a single shot, and sometimes the death row inmate needs to be shot several times.
Moreover, at the time of execution, the death row prisoner will also feel the pain for a short period of time, so giving the death row prisoner anesthetic before the execution can reduce the pain of the death row prisoner.
However, the practice of administering anesthetics to death row inmates has been highly controversial.
Proponents of this approach see it as a sign of humanitarianism and at the same time a sign of respect for the human rights of those on death row.
Those who oppose this practice believe that the death penalty itself is a kind of punishment, and that giving numbing to death row prisoners is a sweet way to make death row prisoners sleep, which is too lenient for death row prisoners.
Whether it is for or against, there is a reason for it, and behind this, it is also necessary to make in-depth thinking at the legal and ethical level.
III. Conclusion.
By understanding the details and procedures of the death penalty, it can trigger people's thinking and discussion on the penal system and judicial fairness, and promote a deeper understanding of the rule of law and human rights in society.
The death penalty as a punishment is itself a punishment of life, but in the process of carrying out the death penalty, it is also necessary to consider how to minimize the suffering of death row inmates and respect their human rights.
Let the death row inmates have a little human dignity in their last moments, which is what we should do.