Iran: Prisoners protesting executions go on hunger strike at Gezel Hesar

                     

NCRI - Inmates in Iran's Gezel Hesar prison have gone on hunger strike in protest at the hanging of dozens of cell mates in recent weeks.

More than 40 prisoners in section 2 of the prison have been transferred to solitary confinement to await their execution.

Leaked reports said that at least ten prisoners were hanged in the prison in the city of Karaj on Tuesday last week.

The latest group of prisoners transferred to isolation to await execution include prisoners Ali Golyarani, Mansour Yadegari and Yousef Fakhteh.

Section 2 of Gezel Hesar prison is divided into 9 halls and house around 3,000 prisoners, most of whom are being held on drug related charges. At least 1000 have received death sentences.

Gezel Hesar prison made headlines in March 2011 when dozens of people were killed and wounded in a prison riot.

Former prisoners have reported torture and physical abuse by staff, catastrophic hygiene conditions and a lack of medical care at the notorious brutal prison.

During the past week at least 20 prisoners have been hanged in Iran including a juvenile offender.