China waged a campaign of harassment and intimidation directed at a UK university to get it to shut down sensitive research into alleged human rights abuses, documents show. Sheffield Hallam University staff were threatened by individuals described as being from China's National Security Service who demanded the research being done in Sheffield be halted.
Access to the university's websites from China was blocked, impeding its ability to recruit Chinese students, in a campaign lasting over two years. Internal communications indicated that university officials believed attempts to retain business in China and the publication of research were becoming incongruous.
When the UK government learned of the situation, former Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned his Chinese counterpart against attempts to suppress academic freedoms.
Detailed documents show China sought to cease research by Professor Laura Murphy, who was investigating allegations that Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang were being subjected to forced labor. China has consistently denied these accusations.
In late 2024, due to pressure from the Chinese state and a defamation lawsuit, Sheffield Hallam decided against publishing Murphy's final piece of research. In early 2025, she was informed that she could no longer pursue her research into supply chains and forced labor in China.
Following this, Murphy launched legal action against the university for endangering her academic freedom and sought access to related internal documents. These documents revealed that the university had effectively negotiated with a foreign intelligence service at the expense of academic freedom.
Sheffield Hallam has since apologized to Murphy and has pledged support for her research. However, concerns persist over the university’s previous actions in silencing academic inquiry on behalf of a foreign government.
A spokesperson from the university stated the decision was based on an oversimplified understanding of complex circumstances at the time, rather than commercial interests in China. Baroness Helena Kennedy KC remarked on the vulnerability of UK universities to foreign pressures, emphasizing the need for protective measures to uphold academic integrity.
