UK university yielded to Chinese pressure to halt Uyghur forced labor research.
Published: Nov 8, 2025 – 10:35 AM EST
By: Uyghur Times Staff
Key Points:
- Sheffield Hallam University in the UK faced pressure from Chinese security officials to stop research into Uyghur forced labor.
- The university blocked the final report and temporarily suspended the research in 2024, citing safety and insurance concerns.
- Professor Laura Murphy has since received an apology and permission to resume her work.
Sheffield Hallam University was subjected to a two-year campaign of intimidation by Chinese authorities seeking to halt its research on Uyghur forced labor, according to internal documents obtained by the BBC. The harassment included threats to staff in China, blocked access to university websites, and warnings from China’s National Security Service to stop the research led by Professor Laura Murphy.
In 2024, amid pressure and a defamation lawsuit, the university decided not to publish Murphy’s final report. Administrators later told her she could not continue her research on China’s supply chains. After filing legal action and demanding internal records, Murphy discovered that the university had negotiated directly with Chinese officials, trading research access for Chinese student recruitment.
“The university had negotiated directly with a foreign intelligence service to trade my academic freedom for access to the Chinese student market,” Murphy said. Sheffield Hallam has since apologized and reaffirmed its commitment to academic freedom.
UK officials have warned Beijing that interference with university research or intimidation of individuals in the UK will not be tolerated.
Rights groups say the Chinese government has systematically targeted academics and institutions investigating Uyghur forced labor in Xinjiang.
This article is summarized based on a BBC report on the subject.
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