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Top UK universities are providing advanced security training for students from countries known for torture and human rights abuses, without conducting proper checks, an investigation has alleged.
A new report by campaign group Freedom from Torture reveals that at least 12 universities, including University College London, as well as Cambridge and Huddersfield universities, have offered specialist courses in areas such as covert investigation and counter-terrorism to students from countries where security forces have been accused of serious human rights violations.
The investigation found that universities had “almost nothing in place” to assess the risk of their courses being used by individuals involved in repression. Universities have become more dependent on deals with foreign institutions and international students to subsidise the cap on tuition fees for UK students.
The University of Cambridge provided police management training to Hong Kong officers between 2017 and 2020, during a period when Hong Kong police were accused of human rights violations during pro-democracy protests. The university said it terminated the contract when “the Chinese Government stepped in to restrict democratic freedoms.”
The University of Huddersfield has maintained a partnership with Bahrain’s Royal Academy of Police – nicknamed the “torture hub” by critics – providing courses in investigative psychology and cyber security.
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The relationship continues despite Bahrain being described as a “highly repressive state” where torture is “systematic and widespread” according to UN experts.
“Education is a fundamental right and can be a powerful tool for good,” said Kolbassia Haoussou, a director at Freedom from Torture. “But [our] investigation reveals that postgraduate security courses are at risk of ending up in the wrong hands and unintentionally strengthening the capabilities of authoritarian regimes.”
Haoussou is a survivor of torture. He added: “I know first-hand the devastating impact that the security forces of oppressive regimes can have on people and entire communities. And this is why we’re deeply concerned about unfettered access to advanced security courses offered by UK universities.”
University College London’s counter-terrorism course has accepted students from countries including China, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, the Philippines, and Pakistan – nations where human rights groups have long-standing concerns about the misuse of anti-terror legislation.
The report, ‘No Questions Asked’, highlights particular concerns about links to China’s Xinjiang region, where authorities have been accused of widespread human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims. During the University of Cambridge’s partnership with the Hong Kong Police College, Hong Kong police maintained direct connections with Chinese mainland police training bodies involved in Xinjiang, Freedom from Torture says.
FFT and other human rights groups say the Chinese state is involved in crimes against humanity against Uyghur and other minority communities in that region.
“As a survivor of torture, I know firsthand the devastating impact that security forces of oppressive regimes can have on people and entire communities,” said Haoussou. “UK universities have a moral and ethical obligation to assess properly who they are educating, and what those skills might be used for.”
The investigation found that none of the universities had conducted specific human rights checks on their partnerships or individual applicants from security forces.
In response, the University of Cambridge said it acted quickly to end its Hong Kong police training once democratic freedoms were restricted. A spokesperson from the Institute of Criminology said the department no longer works with the Hong Kong Police.
They told Byline Times: “The Institute taught three cohorts of Hong Kong Officers from 2017 as part of a contract with Hong Kong Police. As soon as the Chinese Government stepped in to restrict democratic freedoms we acted quickly and terminated the contract.
“Democratic values are a critical part of the Applied Criminology and Police Management programme.”
University College London responded to FFT saying that they “commit to having ethically aware and responsible educational content woven throughout the courses.”
“More specifically we welcome applicants to both courses from all over the world to help spread good practice in policing and counter terrorism.”
However, they did not supply any information about scrutinising potential human rights risks of its course provision, Freedom from Torture says.
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Freedom from Torture is calling for universities to implement robust human rights screening procedures for security-related courses and partnerships.
The report comes amid growing concern about academic relationships with countries accused of human rights violations. The UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has previously warned that universities should “take much greater care in investigating those they work with.”
In 2021, the UK Foreign Secretary introduced guidance to ensure British organisations are not complicit in human rights violations in Xinjiang. However, the report suggests that universities’ oversight of security training has not kept pace with these concerns.
But FFT’s Kolbassia Haoussou said: “The UK is home to some of the most respected universities in the world but in the absence of any human rights due diligence on applicants, UK universities are at risk of sending a message to the Governments of torturing states that horrific abuses can be carried out without consequences.”
He urged UK universities to step away from policing work with authoritarian states, adding: “Turning a blind eye is not an option. My experience, and the stories of so many people like me, are a reminder of what happens when repressive regimes feel they can act with impunity.”
A University of Huddersfield spokesperson said the University’s work in Bahrain “is in line with the long-standing and settled mission advocated by successive UK Governments.”
“All allegations that have been brought to the attention of the University have been put to the relevant human rights organisations and we have worked closely with the British Embassy in Bahrain,” they added.
And they claimed the University’s work in the area recognised that “Bahrain was in the process of addressing human rights concerns.”
“Our work is intended to assist the Bahraini authorities in this, for example through our Master of Laws in Human Rights and Justice.”
They cited the Labour Minister for Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, who stated last December: “The Middle East is subject to instability and the risks of escalation and miscalculation are high. It is more important than ever for the UK to join efforts to build long-term regional security in the region, alongside key partners Bahrain and US.”
You can read the full report here.
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