Pressure from China Silenced UK University's Human Rights Research

Mon Nov 03 2025 21:36:42 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Sheffield Hallam University faced intimidation from China to limit research on human rights abuses, particularly regarding Uighur Muslims, revealing vulnerabilities in academic freedom.

Sheffield Hallam University experienced a campaign of harassment orchestrated by China's National Security Service, compelling the institution to halt critical research on human rights abuses against Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang. Documented threats and access restrictions aimed at the university were reported over more than two years, raising significant concerns about the influence of foreign governments on academic freedom in the UK. The situation has now prompted discussions on ensuring better protections for researchers.

A harrowing probe into the impact of foreign influence on research has unveiled a disturbing trend as documents show that Sheffield Hallam University faced a concerted campaign of harassment and intimidation from agents linked to China's National Security Service. The aim was clear: to suppress investigation into allegations of human rights abuses against Uighur Muslims, particularly concerning forced labor practices in Xinjiang.

The university's staff in China reported threats from these agents who demanded an end to the sensitive research being conducted at the institution. As a result, access to the university's online resources was blocked from within China, severely impacting the university’s ability to attract Chinese students. This intimidation persisted for over two years.

In correspondence from July 2024, officials acknowledged the untenable position of balancing business interests in China against the obligation to publish research findings. Subsequent action by the UK government included a warning from then Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, emphasizing that the UK would not tolerate attempts to suppress academic freedoms.

The harassment efforts targeted Professor Laura Murphy, renowned for her work on human rights and modern slavery, leading to a decision by the university to halt her critical research on forced labor within supply chains linked to China.

In late 2024, after mounting pressure and a defamation lawsuit from a Chinese supplier, Sheffield Hallam effectively silenced Murphy's research efforts, further exposing the delicate balance universities must maintain between academic inquiry and international relations.

Despite recent apologies from the university and a commitment to support Murphy's work moving forward, concerns remain regarding the extent to which foreign powers can influence and restrict scholarly practices in the UK.

Murphy's situation raises anxieties amongst educators and academic institutions over the profound implications of foreign pressures on the integrity of research and educational freedoms.