The CREA group dissolves after the UB takes the harassment case of its founder to the prosecutor's office

BarcelonaThe CREA research group, which has been questioned for years by an alleged case of sexual harassment and abuse of power by its founder, emeritus professor Ramón FlechaThe research group has decided to end its activities. The group announced its dissolution yesterday in a statement released on social media, the day after the University of Barcelona (UB) again referred the alleged harassment by Flecha and others linked to the research network to the Public Prosecutor's Office. Despite this announcement, the group does not admit to any accusations in its statement. In fact, they explicitly state that they feel they are victims of "persecution." The researchers argue that the group is dissolving because it "has been subjected to systematic and continuous harassment" and that those who have remained involved have suffered "persistent discrimination" in public competitions and academic appointments as "punishment" for their work.

They also add that the current smear campaign has exponentially intensified pressure, harassment, and discrimination, which, they say, has had serious consequences for the physical and emotional health of CREA members. "This continued harassment has made the network's continued existence unsustainable," the researchers conclude in their message. In the letter, they also define themselves as a group of people committed to science with social impact, in which each member develops their work with complete academic freedom and autonomy.

These explanations come just hours after The UB has announced that it is taking the case to the Prosecutor's Office. This is the third time (the previous two cases were dismissed), but this time they are confident it will move forward. Up to eleven different witnesses recount—in an extensive 200-page report commissioned by the university itself—conduct suggesting that those accused at CREA acted as a "high-control coercive group." The report also describes sexual relations "in a context of clear hierarchical inequality" with "students, interns, doctoral candidates, or subordinates." In recent months, five more complaints have been added, bringing the total number of cases to sixteen.

The report describes events that "could constitute crimes of sexual and psychological coercion, mistreatment, personal and professional exploitation, as well as humiliating and intimidating conduct," says the University of Barcelona. In this regard, although it hasn't been described as a sect, the possible existence of a "high-control coercive group" is suggested, characterized by strong leadership, a hierarchical structure, and a systematized operation that allegedly used institutions for the benefit of the leader or the group itself. Sources familiar with the case tell ARA that the arguments prepared by the university "are very solid" and that, in total—between the commission's report, the psychologists' reports, and the criminal lawyer's report—the document submitted to the Prosecutor's Office "is practically 1,000 pages long." Furthermore, the same sources assert that the terminology used in the documents has been carefully "defined" to precisely match the group's definition and practices. Other cases that could establish legal precedent are also included. Employment and Salary Sections

Aside from the dissolution of the CREA group as such, on Monday the University of Barcelona (UB) also announced that it was suspending the two teaching and research staff (PDI) linked to the group without pay (for a renewable six-month period). It also revoked the honorary professorship of a third person. This is not the first time the group, which has not been part of the UB's research groups since 2015, has changed its name or leadership, but has continued its work. The background of the case dates back to complaints filed in 2004 and 2016, which were dismissed. In 2004, a complaint was filed regarding internal conflicts within the CREA group, including issues related to financial management and grants. "The UB activated the internal mechanisms in place at the time and prepared a report that was submitted to the public prosecutor's office, which ultimately dismissed the case," the university stated. Subsequently, in 2016, another person internally reported an alleged case of psychological abuse and cult-like behavior. The UB referred the complaint to the public prosecutor's office, which concluded that there were no facts constituting a crime nor objective evidence of criminal activity.

Legal Background

For his part, Ramon Flecha and his successor as director of CREA, who is also a professor of sociology at the UBMarta Soler – whose career recognition has been provisionally withdrawn by the Generalitat.—, sued the newspaper ARA in 2020 over the article"A research group at the University of Barcelona is being denounced, accused of acting like a cult."Published by this newspaper five years earlier. Following a press conference held by CREA itself, the article explained that several members of the university community had filed complaints against the research group, and that these complaints were in addition to others from 2004, which had led the university to open an internal investigation and refer it to the Public Prosecutor's Office. It also gave the account of the CREA members who spoke at the press conference.

However, although it was also publishedthe news of the dismissal of the complaintsFlecha and Soler alleged that the ARA had constructed a "completely false narrative" and that the article was a "serious and intense violation of the right to honor." In 2022, Flecha and Soler sued theNow Balearic Islandsand they sued them for 30,000 euros for "moral damages".

The acronym CREA comes from the name Community of Research on Excellence for All, but twenty years ago the same acronym, then an abbreviation, referred to the name Special Research Center in Theories and Practices Overcoming Inequalities. It was presented then as a research center and now as a research community, but the UB (University of Barcelona) maintains that CREA has not been affiliated with the university since 2015. This newspaper has tried to contact representatives of the group, but has been unsuccessful.