Hundreds of prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Iran have launched a mass hunger strike to protests the rising wave of executions. According to a statement released by the inmates, nearly 1,500 prisoners sentenced to death have joined the hunger strike. The protest began on Monday, October 13, in Ward 2, after 16 prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for execution. It has spread to other Wards as well. The protesting inmates are calling for the abolition of the death