The Saudi Arabian government beheaded a man on Tuesday after Sultan al-Asiri was convicted of killing a drinking partner. The interior ministry said that the man was killed by sword in the southwestern city of Abha. According to the charges, Asiri allegedly shot dead Mufreh Asiri “as they met for drinking intoxicants,” said a statement from the ministry published by the official SPA news agency. It is the 72nd execution in the conservative gulf kingdom this year, and has rights groups angry and frustrated over the continuted use of the death penalty. Earlier this year, 7 Bangladeshis were executed, rising worries that executions are being used in the country too regularly. “It is wrong and disgusting to kill anyone in this way,” said one rights activist in the country. He told Bikyamasr.com via telephone after an execution last month, addign that “doing this just gets people thinking we live in the Dark Ages.” International rights groups have condemned the Saudi government its use of the death penalty. Saudi Arabia is in the top of global nations using capital punishment, along with China, Iran and the United States. Activists in the country are demanding an end to what they call “archaic” and “inhumane” means of killing convicted murderers. BM