ISIS Beheadings and Saudi Punishments: 'Difference Is Clear' [View all]

[IDemo]

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — A top Saudi official has insisted there are differences between the country's practice of public beheadings and the executions carried out by ISIS militants.

Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki told NBC News that Saudi criminal punishments were legitimate because they were based on "a decision made by a court" rather than ISIS' "arbitrary" killings.

Saudi Arabia — one of America's closest allies in the Middle East — has endured sustained criticism by human rights groups for its justice system based on hard-line Islamic law, its lack of political freedom and policies toward women.

In an interview with NBC News, al-Turki defended the nation's public beheading of convicted criminals. "When we do it in Saudi Arabia we do it as a decision made by a court," he said. "The killing is a decision, I mean it is not based on arbitrary choices, to kill this and not to kill this."

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/isis-beheadings-saudi-punishments-difference-clear-n296876

Well, clears that up. The kingdom is a civilized nation operating under the rule of law -- hard-line Islamic law...