UK University Suspends Human Rights Research Following

Published: 03 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Sheffield Hallam University, a leading UK institution, temporarily halted groundbreaking research into human rights abuses in China after apparent pressure from Beijing, the Guardian has revealed. The suspension affected a high-profile project examining forced labour involving Uyghurs, a persecuted Muslim minority in China, and raised serious concerns about academic freedom and international influence on British universities.

In February, the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice (HKC), a hub for human rights research at Sheffield Hallam, instructed Professor Laura Murphy to cease work on supply chains and forced labour in China. Murphy’s work has been widely cited by Western governments and international bodies, including the UN, and has informed policies designed to prevent products made through forced labour from entering global markets. Beijing has consistently denied allegations of forced labour, framing Uyghur work programmes as efforts at poverty alleviation.

The suspension of Murphy’s research, initially justified by Sheffield Hallam as a result of “administrative issues,” lasted eight months. During this period, the Forced Labour Lab’s website was taken offline, limiting public access to the research. Although some reports remain accessible in less visible parts of the university’s archives, the hiatus highlights the chilling impact that foreign influence can have on academic institutions.

Murphy expressed shock at the decision, stating that she initially believed the halt was due to bureaucratic constraints. Subsequent inquiries suggested that the university might have been prioritising access to Chinese students over the continuation of independent research. “It was really shocking to think my academic freedom could be traded for student recruitment considerations,” she said. Sheffield Hallam denies that commercial interests influenced the decision.

The university’s decision came six months after it abandoned a report on the risks of Uyghur forced labour in the critical minerals supply chain, returning the associated funding to the original grantor, Global Rights Compliance (GRC), a Hague-based non-profit law foundation. GRC eventually published the research in June, but the episode sparked criticism from advocates for transparency and human rights.

Lara Strangways, head of business and human rights at GRC, remarked, “It is a problem that Sheffield Hallam is no longer publishing this research. Questions inevitably arise about why it took an external organization to ensure the work reached the public.”

In October, following threats of legal action from Murphy for violating her academic freedom, Sheffield Hallam lifted the restrictions and issued an apology. Nevertheless, Murphy remains cautious about the university’s future support. “I’m unclear whether the university will now be as supportive as it used to be,” she said.

Sheffield Hallam cited multiple reasons for halting the research. Officially, the university expressed concern for the safety of staff in China and noted that, following a defamation lawsuit by a Chinese company mentioned in one of HKC’s reports, its insurance provider would no longer cover the research. The lawsuit is ongoing. However, emails reviewed by the Guardian suggest that commercial and recruitment concerns may also have influenced the decision.

The university has a history of challenges with Chinese authorities. In 2022, China’s foreign ministry labelled the HKC a “vanguard for anti-China forces,” coinciding with the blocking of Sheffield Hallam’s websites in China. A university employee noted that maintaining business relationships in China while publishing critical research “are now untenable bedfellows.” Despite this, Sheffield Hallam maintains that internal emails do not reflect official policy and points out that its commercial interests in China are minimal, with only 73 Chinese students enrolled in 2024-25, representing 1.7% of the international student body.

Legal experts have condemned the university’s actions. James Murray, a partner at Doyle Clayton and an academic freedom specialist, called banning research due to perceived legal risk “a highly pernicious practice and a serious threat to academic freedom.” He added that concerns over staff safety, while valid, do not justify a full suspension of research.

A Sheffield Hallam spokesperson said, “The decision to halt Prof Murphy’s work was based on a complex set of circumstances at the time, including inability to secure professional indemnity insurance. Following a review, her latest research has been approved, and we are committed to supporting her to undertake and disseminate this important work.” The university reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom within legal boundaries.

Internal communications indicate that concern over Chinese government pressure had been present since at least 2022. Sir Chris Husbands, the university’s then vice-chancellor, noted the risk posed by being singled out by Chinese authorities, despite some recruitment challenges. Tensions escalated in April 2024 when three Chinese state security officers visited Sheffield Hallam’s Beijing office, questioning an employee about the HKC for two hours and clearly instructing a cessation of the research.

The April visit reportedly set in motion the eventual compliance by Sheffield Hallam with Beijing’s demands. Internal emails indicate that, after the university informed Chinese authorities it would not publish certain research findings, relations with China improved, including easing recruitment tensions. This sequence of events has raised questions about the influence of foreign governments on the autonomy of UK academic institutions.

Legal representatives for Murphy, including Claire Powell from Leigh Day, have described the case as “extremely serious and troubling,” highlighting broader implications for academic freedom across the UK.

During the suspension, Murphy was working for the US government to implement legislation aimed at preventing imports from Xinjiang connected to forced labour. Upon preparing to return to Sheffield Hallam, she was informed by Prof Sital Dhillon, director of HKC, that her China-related research could not continue. Dhillon previously praised Murphy’s work, stating in 2021, “We are all exceptionally proud of this body of work, which rightly shines light on the blatant abuse of Uyghur rights in China.”

The UK government has expressed clear concern over foreign interference in academic research. A spokesperson stated, “Any attempt by a foreign state to intimidate, harass, or harm individuals in the UK will not be tolerated. The government has robust measures in place, including updated powers and offences under the National Security Act, to prevent such activity.”

The case of Sheffield Hallam University underscores the precarious position of UK institutions navigating both academic freedom and international relationships. While the university has since reinstated Murphy’s research, the episode illustrates the potential for foreign pressure to disrupt critical research and highlights the importance of legal protections and institutional support for academics pursuing sensitive topics.