A/HRC/7/10/Add.1 page 34 houses inscribed on the walls of their houses. Those who refused to leave were subsequently reportedly killed. Observations 136. The Special Rapporteur regrets that she has not received a reply from the Government concerning the above mentioned allegation. She wishes to emphasize that States have an obligation under international human rights law to guarantee the right of minorities to profess and practise their own religion. The State remains responsible even when abuses are committed against minorities by non-State actors and States are also required to encourage conditions for promoting the identity, including the religious identity, of minorities. Jordan Communication sent on 23 October 2007 jointly with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary execution and the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture 137. The Special Rapporteurs brought to the attention of the Government information they had received regarding Mr `Ala’ Abu `Utair and approximately 2100 prisoners held at Swaqa correction and rehabilitation centre. According to the information received, in July and August 2007, they were subjected to repeated beatings with truncheons, electrical cables and steel balls attached to steel chains by about 300 officers of a “Special Police Force”. The officers entered the cells, dragged out the prisoners and beat them in the adjacent courtyard. The prisoners did not receive any medical care following these beatings, although some were severely injured. Several prisoners were unable to walk because of injuries to their legs. Two prisoners, one of them `Ala’ Abu `Utair, died as a result of the ill-treatment. 138. During the same period, the Muslim prisoners who had beards were forcibly shaved and subjected to other restrictions, e.g. they were not allowed to leave their cells 24 hours per day. Starting in September, the situation improved slightly in terms of access to food and access to family members, and exercise. The prison director, named Majed, was removed. However, reportedly, no investigations into the allegations of the deaths in custody or torture were initiated and none of the perpetrators were brought to justice. Observations 139. The Special Rapporteur regrets that she has not received a reply from the Government concerning the above mentioned allegation. Persons deprived of their liberty are in a particularly vulnerable situation, also with regard to freedom of religion or belief. The Special Rapporteur would like to emphasize that it is crucial to provide the personnel of detention facilities with adequate training, raising awareness and enhancing their sensitivity about their duty to promote and respect international human rights standards for the treatment of prisoners, in particular the right to freedom of religion or belief.