Turkistan Times – London: On November 3, 2025, Sheffield Hallam University in the UK reversed its decision to suspend a major research project on Uyghur forced labour and issued a formal apology, following accusations that it had buckled under "direct threats" from the Chinese government. The university’s reversal came after public outcry and the intervention of the UK government.
The controversy began when the project's lead, Professor Laura Murphy, an internationally recognized expert on modern slavery, accused the university of halting her work due to pressure from Beijing. According to the professor’s lawyers, the university received "direct threats" from Chinese security services. Furthermore, Chinese authorities blocked access to the university's website and email addresses from within China, a move seen as an attempt to hinder the recruitment of Chinese students.
"We cannot let British universities be the instrument of the Chinese government," Professor Murphy stated in a press release. "China's human rights violations in the Uyghur region continue unabated, and it is imperative that the academic community continues to conduct rigorous research that shines a light on what is happening." Speaking to the BBC, she also claimed that Chinese authorities had "intimidated, harassed, and questioned" university staff in Beijing.
Sheffield Hallam University initially defended its decision by citing a "complex set of circumstances" and denied that it was acting to protect its "commercial interests" with China. However, as the controversy grew, the university issued a new statement pledging to "support" Professor Murphy's research.
The incident also prompted intervention from the UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed that ministers had acted, stating, "After being made aware of this case, ministers raised it with Beijing, and we welcome the university's decision to support" the research. This affair unfolds against a backdrop of consistent reports from NGOs and academic studies detailing mass internment and forced labour targeting Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, which Beijing denies.
