Why is a hooded mask placed over the head of a condemed person?

it may be so that the condemned persons face cannot be seen in the actual dying process, perhaps for some taboo or religious reason.








edit:


here's a paragraph from a page i found that mentions using hoods. i thought it was interesting that it's used all over the world.








The hood.


In most countries, at least throughout the 20th century, it has been customary to hood the prisoner before execution. Normally, a black cotton or denim hood is used as shown here, but in some countries, notably Britain and its former colonies, a white linen or cotton hood was the norm as seen here. In South Africa and Australia a white hood was also used which was put on in the prisoner's cell prior to them being led into the gallows chamber. Unlike the British version, it had a flap over the eyes which was only closed just before the drop. Typically, the prisoner is hooded only at the last moment before the noose is put round their neck and adjusted. Although they are able to see the gallows, the trap, the executioner and witnesses and the noose dangling before them, most countries found it to be better than hooding them earlier and trying to lead them to the gallows, as they were more frightened by not knowing what was happening. It is thought that Iraq, Malaysia and Singapore hood the prisoner before leading them to the execution chamber.


Some places such as Iran do not use a hood, although a blindfold may be used at some public executions. There are three good reasons for hooding the prisoner. Firstly, in long drop hangings it is very important that the condemned person does not move at the last moment, just as the lever is being pulled - which could easily alter the position of the noose and thus cause them a slower death.


The second reason is to minimise rope burn and marking of the skin of the neck which is why the hood is generally put over the head before the noose. This also prevents the hood being blown off by the updraft created by the body falling.


Hooding also saves the officials, who have to witness the execution, from seeing the condemned person's face as they are about to die and after suspension.








here's the link to the page





http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/hangi鈥?/a>Why is a hooded mask placed over the head of a condemed person?
It removes his/her identity as a person, thereby robbing them of their humanity and making it easier to look down upon them and carry out the punishment.