China has issued a judicial explanation to clarify application of its criminal law on terrorism.

The document, which was issued to all provincial judicial and prosecuting apparatus and public security authorities, was jointly formulated by the Supreme People's Court (SPC), the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) and the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on September 9, and was published on the MPS website on September 21.

The document urges authorities to differentiate normal religious activities from religious extremism and terrorism, and protect freedom of religion. It is the latest judicial explanation released by the SPC or SPP to clarify legal procedures when dealing with terrorism.

The SPP said earlier in September that prosecutors should fast-track cases involving terrorists, religious extremists and manufacturers of firearms and explosives.