Saudi official: 'The difference is clear' between beheadings by Saudi Arabia and ISIS

Saudi Arabia apparently doesn't like comparisons between its practice of public beheadings and the executions of hostages and others by ISIS, with one Saudi official saying "the difference is clear."

"When we do it in Saudi Arabia we do it as a decision made by a court," Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki told NBC News. "The killing is a decision, I mean it is not based on arbitrary choices, to kill this and not to kill this." He added, "ISIS has no legitimate way to decide to kill people."

Human Rights Watch says that in 2014, Saudi Arabia put to death at least 68 people, including one for "sorcery," and Death Penalty Worldwide said "sources suggest" public beheading was the most common form of execution. The United Nations says beheadings are "prohibited under international law under all circumstances" and the country was carrying out executions "with appalling regularity and in flagrant disregard of international law standards."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up