UK University Faces Counter-Terror Probe Over China Pressure

Published: 04 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

A British university is at the centre of a national security investigation after allegations surfaced that it was pressured by Chinese authorities to halt academic research into human rights abuses in China. The case, which has been referred to counter-terrorism police, has sparked renewed concerns about Beijing’s influence on academic freedom within UK universities.

The controversy began when The Guardian reported that Sheffield Hallam University, home to the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice (HKC), instructed Professor Laura Murphy to suspend her work earlier this year. Murphy, a leading scholar in human rights and modern slavery, has spent years investigating China’s alleged use of forced labour in global supply chains, particularly relating to the Uyghur Muslim minority in the Xinjiang region.

According to reports, the directive to stop her research came in February after pressure from external actors allegedly linked to Chinese authorities. Murphy’s work, which has been widely cited in human rights and policy circles, has previously exposed how goods produced with Uyghur forced labour have entered international markets, prompting several Western governments to impose sanctions on Chinese officials and companies.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed that the matter has been referred to counter-terrorism officers, citing potential violations of the National Security Act. A spokesperson for the force told the BBC that the allegations “fall under Section 3 of the National Security Act,” which deals with assisting a foreign intelligence service.

Section 3 makes it an offence to act in a way that “intends that conduct to materially assist a foreign intelligence service in carrying out UK-related activities” or to behave in a manner that is likely to do so. The referral means counter-terror police will now determine whether any criminal activity linked to foreign interference or espionage has occurred.

The case has reignited debate about the vulnerability of UK universities to overseas political influence, particularly from China, which has deepened its economic and educational ties with British institutions over the past two decades. Experts warn that Beijing’s global efforts to suppress critical research and silence dissent often extend to foreign universities through partnerships, funding arrangements, and indirect pressure.

In October, Sheffield Hallam University issued a public apology to Professor Murphy and announced that it had lifted the restriction on her research. In a statement, the university said the original decision had been “based on our understanding of a complex set of circumstances at the time, including being unable to secure the necessary professional indemnity insurance.”

The spokesperson added: “Following a review, we have since approved Professor Murphy’s latest research and are committed to supporting her to undertake and disseminate this important work. We have apologised to Professor Murphy and wish to make clear our commitment to supporting her research and to securing and promoting freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law.”

The Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, where Murphy is based, has a long-standing reputation for advancing research into human rights, social justice, and modern slavery. However, internal sources told journalists that tensions began building after the university’s leadership expressed concerns about potential legal and diplomatic repercussions from China-linked entities.

The controversy deepened when it emerged that Sheffield Hallam had previously withdrawn from a research project investigating Uyghur forced labour in the critical minerals supply chain. That study, commissioned by Global Rights Compliance (GRC), a legal foundation based in The Hague, was reportedly scrapped in late 2023. The university returned the project’s funding to GRC, which later published the findings independently in June 2024.

Global Rights Compliance confirmed that it had worked with Sheffield Hallam on the initial phase of the project but declined to comment on the reasons for the university’s withdrawal. The report ultimately found credible evidence linking major global supply chains for lithium, cobalt, and other key minerals used in electric vehicles to Uyghur forced labour programmes.

The Chinese government has repeatedly denied accusations of forced labour and human rights violations in Xinjiang, insisting that its programmes in the region are designed for “poverty alleviation and vocational training.” Beijing has also accused Western governments and human rights groups of fabricating claims to undermine China’s global trade and reputation.

Professor Murphy, whose research has previously been cited by the United Nations and the European Parliament, has not commented publicly on the latest developments but has previously warned about growing attempts to suppress academic inquiry into China’s human rights record.

“The extent of Chinese state interference in academic institutions globally is deeply concerning,” she said in a 2024 panel discussion. “Universities have a duty not just to protect their researchers, but to defend the principles of free inquiry and evidence-based truth.”

The National Security Act, which came into force earlier this year, was designed to strengthen the UK’s ability to counter foreign interference, espionage, and influence operations. The inclusion of “assisting a foreign intelligence service” as a criminal offence reflects rising fears in Whitehall about state-linked actors targeting the UK’s democratic institutions, businesses, and academic sector.

Civil liberties advocates have expressed caution, urging transparency and due process in the ongoing investigation. They argue that while foreign influence must be taken seriously, care should be taken to avoid chilling legitimate academic collaboration.

Meanwhile, the incident has fuelled broader questions about how UK universities balance academic freedom with financial and political partnerships. With China being one of the largest sources of international students and research funding, many institutions face difficult choices between ethical integrity and economic dependency.

If counter-terrorism investigators find evidence that any individuals or organisations acted under the direction of a foreign power to suppress or manipulate research, the case could mark one of the first major applications of the UK’s new national security legislation in the education sector.

As the investigation unfolds, observers see the Sheffield Hallam case as a potential turning point in the debate over academic independence in the face of global geopolitical pressure. For the UK’s higher education community, the outcome could have lasting implications on how universities protect their scholars and preserve the sanctity of free research.