Sheffield Hallam Faces Counter-Terrorism Investigation Over Alleged Intimidation From China Over Human Rights Research
Counter-terrorism police are investigating allegations that Sheffield Hallam University gave in to pressure from China to stop a professor’s research into forced labour and human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The case centres on Professor Laura Murphy, who leads research at the university’s Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice. Her work looks at how goods made with forced Uyghur labour enter global supply chains—research that has been cited by the United Nations and Western governments.
Documents obtained through subject access and freedom of information requests suggest that university staff in China were threatened by individuals claiming to represent China’s National Security Service, who demanded that Murphy’s research be stopped. The papers also indicated that once the university paused publication of a key report, “relations improved and the threat to staff wellbeing appears to be removed.”
South Yorkshire Police confirmed they referred the case to counter-terrorism officers because the “allegations fall under Section 3 of the National Security Act,” which deals with “assisting a foreign intelligence service.” Under UK law, it’s an offence to intentionally or even inadvertently help a foreign agency carry out UK-related activities. Downing Street called Chinese interference in British universities “absolutely unacceptable,” confirming ministers have raised the case directly with Beijing.
The controversy began when Sheffield Hallam halted Murphy’s research in early 2024, citing “a complex set of circumstances” and difficulties in obtaining professional indemnity insurance after a Chinese company sued the university for defamation following a previous report by Murphy’s team. Murphy said she had spent a year urging the university to seek help from the government rather than engage with Chinese security figures. “I really tried to manage this amicably and it’s regrettable to me that we’re in a situation where there’s a police investigation,” she told The Times.
The university has since reversed its decision and apologised. “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,” a university spokesperson said. They added that “the decision was not based on commercial interests in China,” noting that the country represents a small share of its international student body.
Campaigners say the case could expose a deeper issue across UK academia. Luke de Pulford of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China said, “There are many more cases like Professor Murphy’s waiting to be dragged into the light. This is a systemic problem facing the entire UK higher education sector.” Uyghur rights activist Rahima Mahmut added, “We need to ensure this never happens again. The Uyghur community has benefited from free academic inquiry and we need to be reassured that researchers in the UK will be free to look into the crimes being committed against my people.”
The National Security Act—introduced to counter espionage and foreign interference—could be tested by this investigation. If prosecutors find the university’s actions amounted to cooperation with a foreign intelligence service, it could become one of the first cases brought under the new law.
