China intimidated a UK university to abandon human rights research on alleged forced labor in Xinjiang, according to documents obtained by the BBC and The Guardian. Sheffield Hallam University initially halted the work of Professor Laura Murphy after pressure from Chinese authorities, but later reversed its decision following legal action and public outcry.
Professor Murphy’s research at the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice focused on supply chains connected to Xinjiang, where Uyghur Muslims are alleged to be subjected to forced labor. Her reports on industries such as solar panels, car parts, and cotton have been widely cited by Western governments and international bodies, influencing policies to prevent goods made with forced labor from entering markets.
The intimidation campaign began in 2022 when Chinese officials, including from the National Security Service, visited the university’s Beijing office. Staff were questioned for hours in a threatening manner, and the university’s websites were blocked in China, severely impacting its ability to recruit Chinese students. Internal emails described the tone as menacing and the demand to cease research as explicit.
In response, Sheffield Hallam University decided in late 2024 not to publish a final research report and informed Professor Murphy in early 2025 that she could not continue her work on China. The university cited concerns over staff safety in China and the loss of professional indemnity insurance due to a defamation lawsuit filed by a Hong Kong-based company named in one of the reports.
Internal documents revealed that commercial considerations played a role, with university officials noting that retaining business in China and publishing the research were “untenable bedfellows.” Student numbers from China had dropped significantly, and the university earned millions from Chinese students in previous years, highlighting financial pressures.
Professor Murphy, upon returning from a career break, initiated legal action against the university for violating her academic freedom under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. She argued that the university traded her freedom for access to the Chinese student market, and her legal team contended that insurance issues and safety concerns did not justify such restrictions.
In October 2025, the university apologized to Professor Murphy, lifted the ban on her research, and committed to supporting academic freedom. However, she expressed caution about the university’s future support, and the case raised broader concerns about foreign influence on UK universities.
The UK government condemned China’s actions, with the Foreign Secretary warning Beijing that such intimidation would not be tolerated. This incident underscores the vulnerability of academic institutions to geopolitical pressures and the importance of safeguarding free speech and research integrity in an increasingly interconnected world.