BBC News

China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show

Guardian

UK university halted human rights research after pressure from China

Chinadaily.com.cn

How UK university's reports spread Western propaganda on Xinjiang

House of Commons

Written evidence submitted by Professor Laura T. Murphy, Sheffield Hallam University Helena Kennedy Centre & Dr. Shawn Bhimani, Northeastern University D’Amore-McKim School of Business (FL0011)

Csis

Laura T. Murphy

People's Daily

Situation in Xinjiang belies 'human rights' smears

China Daily

Statement of the Chinese Embassy in the UK on Xinjiang-related Issues

XINHUA

Xinhua Commentary: Xinjiang advances modernization with unwavering determination

The Critic Magazine

British Universities Have A China Problem

Metaculus

China Freedom House Score for 2028?

Financial Times

Chinese intimidation stopped UK university from publishing human rights report

Baltic News Network

China has launched a campaign of intimidation against British academics

Sheffield Hallam University staff in China were threatened by individuals described as being from China's National Security Service who demanded research into alleged human rights abuses be halted, according to documents obtained by the BBC.</span

Sheffield Hallam University staff in China were threatened by individuals described as being from China's National Security Service who demanded research into alleged human rights abuses be halted, according to documents obtained by the BBC.

The university's websites were blocked in China starting in August 2022, preventing Chinese students from accessing enrollment information and negatively impacting recruitment, while China's foreign ministry criticized the institution.</span

The university's websites were blocked in China starting in August 2022, preventing Chinese students from accessing enrollment information and negatively impacting recruitment, while China's foreign ministry criticized the institution.

Laura Murphy, professor of human rights and contemporary slavery at Sheffield Hallam, was ordered in February 2025 to cease her research on supply chains and forced labor in China after years of publishing reports on Uyghur labor practices.</span

Laura Murphy, professor of human rights and contemporary slavery at Sheffield Hallam, was ordered in February 2025 to cease her research on supply chains and forced labor in China after years of publishing reports on Uyghur labor practices.

The Chinese Embassy in London stated that the Helena Kennedy Centre released multiple fake reports on Xinjiang that are seriously flawed and accused some authors of receiving funding from certain US agencies for their research work.</span

The Chinese Embassy in London stated that the Helena Kennedy Centre released multiple fake reports on Xinjiang that are seriously flawed and accused some authors of receiving funding from certain US agencies for their research work.

Sheffield Hallam University apologized to Professor Murphy and said she could resume her work after initially citing concerns about staff safety and inability to secure professional indemnity insurance as reasons for halting the research.</span

Sheffield Hallam University apologized to Professor Murphy and said she could resume her work after initially citing concerns about staff safety and inability to secure professional indemnity insurance as reasons for halting the research.

The UK government raised the issue with China's education minister and Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned his Chinese counterpart that Britain would not tolerate attempts to suppress academic freedoms at UK universities.</span

The UK government raised the issue with China's education minister and Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned his Chinese counterpart that Britain would not tolerate attempts to suppress academic freedoms at UK universities.

China Threatens UK University Staff Over Uyghur Research

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

China Threatens UK University Staff Over Uyghur Research

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters