A/64/159 responsibility to ensure that there is no discrimination against any prisoner or staff member belonging to a minority group. In order to prevent any potential abuse, States should ensure that detention facilities are the object of intense public scrutiny and put in place effective complaints mechanisms. B. Refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced persons 22. The mandate has also reported about the vulnerable situation in terms of freedom of religion or belief of refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced persons, who have fled their homes or have been expelled from their own country. 11 The Special Rapporteur notes that whereas the refugee definition in the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees refers to “well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of […] religion”, the approaches taken seem to differ significantly in applying the term “religion” or when determining what constitutes “persecution” in this context. The Special Rapporteur has received reports indicating that some asylum adjudicators ask faith-testing questions with doubtful validity or limited justification. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur would like to remind that the risk of persecution is not necessarily dependent on detailed substantive knowledge of the applicant’s religion because individuals may also find themselves persecuted for imputed religious beliefs. 23. The Special Rapporteur would like to emphasize that religion-based refugee claimants should not be expected by asylum adjudicators to hide their religion or to practise in secret in their countries of origin in order to avoid persecution. It is an integral part of the right to freedom of religion or belief to be able to manifest, publicly and in community with others, one’s religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching. The Special Rapporteur also shares the concerns that the concept of internal flight alternative can sometimes prove particularly problematic for religion-based asylum claims and might ultimately lead to undesirable segregation of religious groups in particular areas of the countries of origin. 24. Another particular problem in terms of freedom of religion or belief may arise for those persons who, after having arrived in the country where they are seeking asylum, convert to a religion which would make them prone to persecution in their country of origin if they were to be returned. In the assessment of such asylum applications, suspicions often arise regarding the sincerity and credibility of asylum claims. However, the Special Rapporteur would like to reiterate that such postdeparture conversion should not give rise to a presumption that the claim is fabricated, and the immigration authorities should evaluate the genuineness of the conversion on a case-by-case basis taking into account the specific past and present circumstances of the applicant. C. Children 25. Children are also vulnerable with regard to their right to freedom of religion or belief. The mandate has reported on various forms of discriminatory treatment which derive both from governmental actions and from incidents provoked by __________________ 11 09-40869 See A/62/280, paras. 38-63, A/62/280/Corr.1 and A/HRC/6/5, paras. 30-31. 9