A UK university halted research into forced labour in China following pressure from Beijing, a professor who has spearheaded the work and successfully fought the move said Monday.
Laura Murphy, recognised globally for her academic work on contemporary slavery, hired human rights lawyers to fight Sheffield Hallam University's decision to curtail her research and forced a U-turn.
Murphy has published numerous reports on the links between forced labour in China's northwestern Xinjiang region and various global supply chains.
China has consistently rejected accusations of forced labour in the region, home to a Muslim minority that rights groups say faces persecution in western China.
After initiating the legal action, the professor at its Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice said the institution in central England has now pledged to protect her academic freedom and apologised.
Her lawyers at the law firm Leigh Day said the reversal came shortly after documents accessed through freedom of information requests showed the university had acted following "direct threats" from Chinese security services.
Beijing also blocked access to the university's website and email addresses within China, threatening to hinder the recruitment of students there, it noted.
Murphy said in a statement that UK universities should not be "acting as the long arm" of China's government and aiding "its attempts to silence criticism of its crimes against the Uyghurs" and other minorities.
"It's imperative that the academic community persist in conducting rigorous research that sheds light on what is happening," she added.
Murphy told BBC Radio that she had learned Chinese authorities were "intimidating and harassing and interrogating the staff that the university has in Beijing".
She states the university then told her earlier this year it was no longer permitting any research on forced labour or on China and that significant restrictions were to be placed on her external work.
A spokesperson for Sheffield Hallam insisted its initial decision "was not based on commercial interests in China", noting the country "is not a significant international student market for the university".
Only 73 of 4,204 international students enrolled in the 2024-25 academic year -- less than two percent -- were from China, it noted.
"The university's decision... was taken based on our understanding of a complex set of circumstances at the time, including being unable to secure the necessary professional indemnity insurance," the spokesperson added.
"We will uphold and, where required, robustly defend the academic freedom of our staff."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesman confirmed that ministers had previously intervened over the accusations.
"After learning of this case, government ministers raised it with Beijing, and we welcome the university's decision to support this research," his spokesman said.
