Sexual Abuse and Harassment Scandal Rocks Nobel Prize Institution

It is probably the first time that the accusation of sexual abuse and harassment involving members of the Institution, which awards Nobel Prize in Literature, has erupted in Sweden. As a consequence, Sara Danius, a literary scholar and the first woman to lead the body was forced to resign after a member’s husband is found guilty of sexual abuse, harassment, and other scandals.

56 years old Sara Danius has been the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy since 2015 and the academy, which is more than 200 years old, was founded in the year 1786 and has been awarding the Nobel Prize in Literature since 1901.

Sara Danius was forced to resign as the face of the institution after the difference of opinion popped up dividing the academy board comprising of all permanent members. After putting her resignation she said, “It has already affected the Nobel Prize quite severely and that is a big problem”.

The effect of the scandal has reached the corridor of power too, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven reacted by saying, “It’s a very important issue for Sweden and therefore it is important that this institution works. It is now up to the academy to restore faith and respect”.

The matter of sexual abuse, harassment and money related scandal first surfaced in November last year when media reports where more than 18 women had accused Jean-Claude Arnault, an important cultural figure of sexual abuse and harassment. Arnault’s wife, poet Katarina Frostenson is a member of the academy. Both husband and wife also run a cultural club named Forum, which also received funds from the academy.

According to the women who accused Arnault of mistreating them at the club and at the Swedish academy’s other centers in Paris and Stockholm continuously for past 20 years. He is also accused of leaking information about the winner of the prize 7 times since 1996.

After the reports of Arnault involvement came to light, the academy broke all ties and contracts with him and also stopped the grant, which his club was getting from the Academy. Followed by an internal investigation initiated involving law firms, which recommended the academy members to file a police report, but the academy under Sara Danius didn’t move it forward.

Criticizing the attitude of the permanent secretary for not filing a police report against Arnault, last week three permanent members quit from the academy in protest, which thereby divided the board in two different opinions. One group sought for the resignation of Sara Danius as the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy and accordingly she had to resign following the majority vote.

Arnault has denied the accusation on him, while Swedish police are investigating the matter. His wife Katarina has also announced her withdrawal from the academy activities.

The academy, founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is directly under the patronage of the Norwegian king. It has 18 members who are elected for life terms. In view of this disruption, the current King Carl XVI Gustav said he might have to invoke his authority as the monarch to amend the rules of the academy to find out replacement of the members, who have left the board.