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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

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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

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

XINHUA

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Metaculus

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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 impacting recruitment, while China's foreign ministry criticized the Helena Kennedy Centre.</span

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

Professor Laura Murphy's research focused on allegations that Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang were subject to forced labor, while China's embassy stated the reports were flawed and accused the center of spreading disinformation.</span

Professor Laura Murphy's research focused on allegations that Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang were subject to forced labor, while China's embassy stated the reports were flawed and accused the center of spreading disinformation.

Sheffield Hallam decided not to publish Murphy's final research in late 2024 and told her she could not continue China-related work, citing insurance issues and staff safety concerns after pressure from Chinese authorities.</span

Sheffield Hallam decided not to publish Murphy's final research in late 2024 and told her she could not continue China-related work, citing insurance issues and staff safety concerns after pressure from Chinese authorities.

The university earned £3.8 million from China and Hong Kong in 2021/22 but enrolled only 73 Chinese students in 2024/25, representing 1.7% of its international student population according to internal documents.</span

The university earned £3.8 million from China and Hong Kong in 2021/22 but enrolled only 73 Chinese students in 2024/25, representing 1.7% of its international student population according to internal documents.

Sheffield Hallam apologized to Murphy in October and said she could resume her work after she initiated legal action, while the UK government warned China it would not tolerate attempts to suppress academic freedoms.</span

Sheffield Hallam apologized to Murphy in October and said she could resume her work after she initiated legal action, while the UK government warned China it would not tolerate attempts to suppress academic freedoms.

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Sheffield Hallam University staff in China were allegedly 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.

Sheffield Hallam University staff in China were allegedly 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 Over Uyghur Research

China Threatens UK University Staff Over Uyghur Research

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China Threatens UK University Over Uyghur Research

China Threatens UK University Staff Over Uyghur Research

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