On September 9, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security issued the Opinions on Several Issues concerning the Application of Law in the Handling of Criminal Cases of Violent Terrorism and Religious Extremism (the "Opinions").
The Opinions emphasize that the nature of cases shall be correctly identified. Where a person organizes or gathers other persons in the planning and implementation of one of the seven types of behaviour enumerated in the Opinions for the purpose of creating social panic, endangering public security or imposing coercion on state organs or international organizations, which causes or intends to cause loss of life or personal injury, major property damage, public facility destruction or social disorder, such person shall be convicted and punished for the crime of organizing, leading or participating in a terrorist organization. In addition, the Opinions also set out explicit provisions on the propaganda materials involved and the identification standards for whether such a crime has been "knowingly" committed, as well as the jurisdiction over such cases.