Sheffield Hallam University (“SHU”) has apologised for imposing severe restrictions on the academic freedom of one of its most prominent professors following threats from agents described in University documents as members of China’s “National Security Service”.
Professor Laura Murphy, who is Professor of Human Rights and Contemporary Slavery at the University’s Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, is an acclaimed academic who is known globally for her groundbreaking work on links between forced labour in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (“XUAR”) of China and global supply chains. In early 2025, SHU informed Professor Murphy that the University would no longer support “research on forced labour” and that she would be subject to new restrictions imposed by SHU even in relation to work outside her university role. SHU then blocked research proposals from Professor Murphy which related to forced labour and supply chains in XUAR. SHU claimed that these steps were necessary because of litigation risks (and a lack of available insurance protecting against such risks) arising from work on forced labour in China, and due to staff safety concerns. Subsequently disclosed documents revealed that SHU received pressure and threats from what it understood to be officials from China’s “National Security Service” prior to its decisions to restrict Professor Murphy’s research.
By way of pre-action correspondence, Professor Murphy contended that the restrictions imposed on her by SHU were manifestly unlawful because they represented a failure to comply with SHU’s statutory duties to secure academic freedom and freedom of speech (as well as other legal obligations). After initially denying any wrongdoing, SHU has now apologised to Professor Murphy and offered an assurance that she will be free to proceed with her research going forward.
China rejects accusations of forced labour in XUAR.
Darryl Hutcheon acts for Professor Murphy, instructed by Tessa Gregory and Claire Powell at Leigh Day.
For media coverage, see e.g.:
- China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show – BBC News;
- UK university halted human rights research after pressure from China – The Guardian;
- Sheffield Hallam University, recognising its failure to protect academic freedom, reverses research ban on forced labour in China – Leigh Day.