In academic and human rights circles, there are growing claims that the Chinese government’s pressure and academic restrictions on scholars researching Uyghurs have expanded even into Western academic institutions.
The recent case of Professor Laura Murphy, which has been widely discussed in European academic circles over the past few days, is the most recent example of these allegations.
According to international news outlets, due to threats and commercial pressure from the Chinese government, Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom came under scrutiny for pressuring Professor Laura Murphy, who has been conducting research on human rights and modern slavery for the past two years, because of her work on Uyghurs.
Reports from BBC and The Guardian, based on internal university correspondence from 2022–2024, revealed that the university was forced to choose between its commercial interests and academic freedom.
In 2022, the Chinese government restricted the university’s websites and communication networks that allowed it to connect with Chinese students because of Professor Murphy’s research into forced labor among Uyghurs. In April 2024, three officials from China’s Ministry of State Security visited the university’s office in China, interrogated staff for two hours about future research topics, and explicitly stated that the university’s websites were blocked in China due to “research on Uyghur forced labor.”
That same year, the Chinese government denounced Professor Murphy’s research on forced labor as “defamation” and filed an official complaint. Following the lawsuit, the university announced that it would not publish the findings of the research, citing the ongoing legal process.
At the beginning of 2025, the university stated that it was suspending research on Uyghur forced labor, citing “the expiration of research insurance coverage and its responsibility to its employees in the UK.”
Professor Murphy filed a legal appeal so that her mostly Uyghur research team could continue their work. After international media outlets became involved, Sheffield Hallam University formally apologized and allowed her to resume her research.
When the case gained attention in the Western press, I spoke with Professor Laura Murphy. She said she continues her research on certain technical and strategic infrastructures linked to Uyghur forced labor, adding that many Turkologists working on Uyghur issues fear pressure from university administrations. She stated:
“My hope is that what happened at our university will serve as an example that prevents administrators from ever again interfering with our freedom to document and oppose the oppression of the Uyghur community.”
Dr. Dilnur Reyhan, sociologist and director of the European Uyghur Institute, told me in an interview that the reduction of research and higher education funding in European countries has made universities increasingly dependent on wealthy, authoritarian states—a troubling situation that has been deepening, especially in the Anglo-Saxon world. She commented:
“What happened to Professor Laura Murphy is a great shame for Western European countries that see themselves as defenders of freedom.”
Renowned Uyghur intellectual and researcher Abduweli Ayup said that Laura Murphy is one of the few Western scholars who persistently exposes China’s modern slavery policies. He argued that the university’s retreat in the face of China amounts to accepting slavery, adding:
“There can be no science without academic freedom. Without defending academic freedom, we cannot resist spheres of influence. Without resisting spheres of influence, we cannot oppose authoritarianism. We hope such an event will never happen again.”
The university has faced harsh criticism from human rights advocates and academic communities for allegedly negotiating directly with Chinese intelligence agencies to maintain access to the lucrative market of Chinese students.
The increasing influence of China over Western academic institutions means greater censorship of sensitive topics and growing intimidation of researchers.
Yalqun Ulughyo’l, a China expert at Human Rights Watch, stated that in recent years, China has been “using various methods to silence overseas activists, critical academics, and Uyghurs by exploiting legal mechanisms in democratic countries.” He added:
“These recent incidents are a strong warning for the nations of the world. Governments must protect the freedom of academics and activists from China’s transnational repression tactics.”
Laura Murphy emphasized that Western institutions should immediately report foreign government threats to local authorities and leave resolution to their governments. She added:
“I draw inspiration from my Uyghur colleagues who have paid a far higher price for refusing to remain silent. I will continue to support them through my research. We cannot allow China to conceal its actions. Careful and well-documented research is now more vital than ever.”
China’s threats and restrictions on Western researchers studying Uyghurs have long been known. Danish anthropologist Rune Steenberg, who has conducted research on Uyghur internment camps, has been banned from entering China. In 2025, he was also denied entry into Kazakhstan. Steenberg stated that China tries to obstruct researchers working on Uyghur issues through threats, espionage, and intimidation, saying:
“The people who suffer the most from China’s repression are Turkic peoples abroad, such as Uyghurs and Kazakhs. We know that people who work with or talk to me—and their families—have been harmed by China. These pressures make our research increasingly difficult.”
Steenberg also noted that Chinese authorities have been actively trying to block research on Uyghurs funded through the European Union’s regional development programs, but both the EU and Palacký University have refused to bow to Beijing’s threats.
Dr. Dilnur Reyhan, who has been on trial for three years following a complaint from the Chinese Embassy in France, said that China is attempting to manipulate and exploit the concept of academic freedom through European institutions. She stated:
“The threats directed at me aim to stop me from exposing the true face of the Chinese government—its crimes—through my writings, lectures, and conferences. We must use every legal means available to resist China’s attempts to undermine academic freedom in European universities with its financial influence.”
Finally, despite the increasing variety and severity of pressures on human rights defenders and Turkologists studying Uyghur issues, Western governments and legal institutions have yet to issue a clear statement on how they will protect these scholars’ safety and academic freedom.
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