China's Supreme Procuratorate has issued an urgent circular in Beijing ordering local procuratorates to punish government officials who illegally arrested lawmakers.

Under the law, lawmakers are exempt from arrest and criminal judgment during both meeting or closing periods of the legislative bodies.

Procuratorates must fully recognize their important duty to protect the legal rights of the lawmakers and safeguard the dignity of the law.

Those who have been involved in illegal detention and arrests of lawmakers or any other forms of illegal restriction of personal freedom of lawmakers must be punished, especially in cases where lawmakers have been illegally detained more than once or for a long period of time.

Appeals by lawmakers over illegal arrests must be dealt with swiftly. Court proceedings must be reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.