Ramón Flecha

José Ramón Flecha García (Bilbao, February 22, 1952) is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Barcelona. He founded the CREA research group, which would function as a sect, with Flecha himself acting as its guru <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-14 |title=Una "secta" en el Colegio de Periodistas |url=https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/pensamiento/20241114/una-secta-en-el-colegio-de-periodistas/901039893_13.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Crónica Global |language=es}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-01 |title=Así se ha infiltrado la secta Crea en la estructura de la Generalitat |url=https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/vida/20250101/asi-infiltrado-la-secta-crea-estructura-generalitat/913158696_0.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Crónica Global |language=es}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Barnés |first=Héctor G. |date=2016-06-15 |title=La &#039;secta&#039; de la Universidad de Barcelona: la guerra oculta por el control académico |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/alma-corazon-vida/2016-06-15/crea-secta-universidad-barcelona-control-academico_1217673/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=elconfidencial.com |language=es}}</ref>.In July 2025, he was formally accused by fourteen women of ongoing sexual abuse spanning over 30 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20250702/catorce-mujeres-denuncian-ante-universidad-barcelona-a-catedratico-por-mantener-relaciones-sexuales-con-becarias/16647067.shtml|title=Fourteen women report professor to the University of Barcelona for having sexual relationships with grant holders|access-date=2025-07-07|last=Bolaños|first=Vicky|date=2025-07-02|website=RTVE.es|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.infolibre.es/igualdad/catorce-mujeres-acusan-catedratico-ub-coercion-sexual-abuso-durante-decadas_1_2024114.html|title=Fourteen women accuse University of Barcelona professor of sexual coercion and abuse of power over decades|access-date=2025-07-07|last=Jaenes|first=Marta|date=2025-07-02|website=infoLibre|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/seis-mujeres-senalan-catedratico-universitat-barcelona-pedirles-masajes-sexo-jefe_1_12428715.html|title=Six women accuse University of Barcelona professor of requesting massages and sex while acting as their superior|access-date=2025-07-07|last=Aguilar|first=Ana Requena|date=2025-07-02|website=ElDiario.es|language=es}}</ref>

José Ramón Flecha García (Bilbao, February 22, 1952) is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Barcelona. He founded the CREA research group, which would function as a sect, with Flecha himself acting as its guru <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-14 |title=Una "secta" en el Colegio de Periodistas |url=https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/pensamiento/20241114/una-secta-en-el-colegio-de-periodistas/901039893_13.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Crónica Global |language=es}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-01 |title=Así se ha infiltrado la secta Crea en la estructura de la Generalitat |url=https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/vida/20250101/asi-infiltrado-la-secta-crea-estructura-generalitat/913158696_0.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Crónica Global |language=es}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Barnés |first=Héctor G. |date=2016-06-15 |title=La &#039;secta&#039; de la Universidad de Barcelona: la guerra oculta por el control académico |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/alma-corazon-vida/2016-06-15/crea-secta-universidad-barcelona-control-academico_1217673/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=elconfidencial.com |language=es}}</ref>. In July 2025, he was formally accused by fourteen women of ongoing sexual abuse spanning over 30 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20250702/catorce-mujeres-denuncian-ante-universidad-barcelona-a-catedratico-por-mantener-relaciones-sexuales-con-becarias/16647067.shtml|title=Fourteen women report professor to the University of Barcelona for having sexual relationships with grant holders|access-date=2025-07-07|last=Bolaños|first=Vicky|date=2025-07-02|website=RTVE.es|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.infolibre.es/igualdad/catorce-mujeres-acusan-catedratico-ub-coercion-sexual-abuso-durante-decadas_1_2024114.html|title=Fourteen women accuse University of Barcelona professor of sexual coercion and abuse of power over decades|access-date=2025-07-07|last=Jaenes|first=Marta|date=2025-07-02|website=infoLibre|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/seis-mujeres-senalan-catedratico-universitat-barcelona-pedirles-masajes-sexo-jefe_1_12428715.html|title=Six women accuse University of Barcelona professor of requesting massages and sex while acting as their superior|access-date=2025-07-07|last=Aguilar|first=Ana Requena|date=2025-07-02|website=ElDiario.es|language=es}}</ref>

==Biography==

==Biography==

He is currently advising the evaluation of the social impact of science in the European Framework Program,<ref>Horizone Europe program analysis includes the [https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/cbb7ce39-d66d-11e8-9424-01aa75ed71a1 Monitoring the impact of EU Framework Programs report], report where he has participated as an advisor to the European Commission for the realization of the impact assessment indicators of social impact of the research.</ref> after the completion of his latest European research IMPACT-EV.<ref>[https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/111235/reporting/en Official index card of IMPACT-EV] research in CORDIS database, European Commission.</ref>

He is currently advising the evaluation of the social impact of science in the European Framework Program,<ref>Horizone Europe program analysis includes the [https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/cbb7ce39-d66d-11e8-9424-01aa75ed71a1 Monitoring the impact of EU Framework Programs report], report where he has participated as an advisor to the European Commission for the realization of the impact assessment indicators of social impact of the research.</ref> after the completion of his latest European research IMPACT-EV.<ref>[https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/111235/reporting/en Official index card of IMPACT-EV] research in CORDIS database, European Commission.</ref>

== Accusations of being the guru of a sect, personality cult, and sexual access to female students ==

== Accusations of being the guru of a sect and personality cult ==

In 2004, various internet forums anonymously pointed to Ramón Flecha as the beneficiary of a harem of students, as well as acting as the guru of an academic sect, which would be CREA<ref>{{Cite web |title=Les sectes prenen diferents formes: la secta CREA - Indymedia Barcelona |url=https://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/100186/index.php |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=barcelona.indymedia.org}}</ref> . That same year, he faced a first lawsuit (from both men and women) from former members of the group for public defamation (machismo-related violence) as punishment for leaving what they considered a sect. Both the Provincial Court of Barcelona (ruling dated February 27, 2005) and the Supreme Court (ruling dated January 1, 2009) condemned CREA.

In 2004, various internet forums anonymously pointed to Ramón Flecha as the beneficiary of a harem of students, as well as acting as the guru of an academic sect, which would be CREA<ref>{{Cite web |title=Les sectes prenen diferents formes: la secta CREA - Indymedia Barcelona |url=https://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/100186/index.php |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=barcelona.indymedia.org}}</ref> . That same year, he faced a first lawsuit (from both men and women) from former members of the group for public defamation (machismo-related violence) as punishment for leaving what they considered a sect. Both the Provincial Court of Barcelona (ruling dated February 27, 2005) and the Supreme Court (ruling dated January 1, 2009) condemned CREA.

In 2024, he initiated a campaign to intimidate journalists and media that have covered the case, as well as to recruit journalists sympathetic to CREA's work, leading to the creation of a "white list"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Journalists – CSA Survivors – Science and Friendship |url=https://csasurvivorsf.org/journalists/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |language=en-US}}</ref>.

In 2024, he initiated a campaign to intimidate journalists and media that have covered the case, as well as to recruit journalists sympathetic to CREA's work, leading to the creation of a "white list"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Journalists – CSA Survivors – Science and Friendship |url=https://csasurvivorsf.org/journalists/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |language=en-US}}</ref>.

\== Allegations of ongoing sexual misconduct ==

== Allegations of ongoing sexual misconduct ==

In June 2025, fourteen women submitted a letter to the rector of the University of Barcelona (UB), Joan Guàrdia, describing a series of allegedly inappropriate behaviors attributed to sociology professor Ramón Flecha. The accusations detail sexual relationships between the professor and female grant holders, doctoral candidates, students, or subordinate researchers, in contexts marked by clear hierarchical inequality. In some cases, these were described as involving "sexual coercion, abuse of power, sexual harassment, psychological violence, and labor exploitation." The complainants' legal representatives described a “longstanding pattern of sexual coercion and hierarchical subordination disguised as academic relationships.”{{Cite web|url=[https://elpais.com/sociedad/2025-07-02/14-mujeres-denuncian-en-una-carta-abuso-de-poder-y-coercion-sexual-por-parte-de-un-catedratico-de-la-universidad-de-barcelona.html|title=14](https://elpais.com/sociedad/2025-07-02/14-mujeres-denuncian-en-una-carta-abuso-de-poder-y-coercion-sexual-por-parte-de-un-catedratico-de-la-universidad-de-barcelona.html|title=14) women denounce abuse of power and sexual coercion by a University of Barcelona professor|access-date=2025-07-07|last=Valdés|first=Ivanna Vallespín, Isabel|date=2025-07-02|website=El País|language=es}}

In June 2025, fourteen women submitted a letter to the rector of the University of Barcelona (UB), Joan Guàrdia, describing a series of allegedly inappropriate behaviors attributed to sociology professor Ramón Flecha. The accusations detail sexual relationships between the professor and female grant holders, doctoral candidates, students, or subordinate researchers, in contexts marked by clear hierarchical inequality. In some cases, these were described as involving "sexual coercion, abuse of power, sexual harassment, psychological violence, and labor exploitation." The complainants' legal representatives described a “longstanding pattern of sexual coercion and hierarchical subordination disguised as academic relationships.” <ref>{{Cite web |last=Valdés |first=Ivanna Vallespín, Isabel |date=2025-07-02 |title=14 mujeres denuncian en una carta abuso de poder y coerción sexual por parte de un catedrático de la Universidad de Barcelona |url=https://elpais.com/sociedad/2025-07-02/14-mujeres-denuncian-en-una-carta-abuso-de-poder-y-coercion-sexual-por-parte-de-un-catedratico-de-la-universidad-de-barcelona.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=El País |language=es}}</ref>

The testimonies describe incidents spanning the past three decades, including private meetings held in bars or homes, early intimate contact following the development of academic trust, and demands related to physical appearance or domestic tasks.{{Cite web|url=[https://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/excolaboradoras-catedratico-senalado-universitat-barcelona-ponia-limpiar-casa-cocinar\_1\_12432486.html|title=Former](https://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/excolaboradoras-catedratico-senalado-universitat-barcelona-ponia-limpiar-casa-cocinar_1_12432486.html|title=Former) collaborators of the professor accused at the University of Barcelona: “He made us clean his house and cook”|access-date=2025-07-07|last=Aguilar|first=Ana Requena|date=2025-07-02|website=ElDiario.es|language=es}} The complainants claim that Flecha used his position to support the academic careers of women (e.g., doctorates, conferences, research projects), thereby fostering a dynamic in which professional advancement was linked to sexual tension.{{Cite web|url=[https://www.elperiodico.com/es/sociedad/20250702/abusos-universidad-barcelona-ramon-flecha-testimonio-exalumno-profesor-alex-carame-119292865|title=Abuse](https://www.elperiodico.com/es/sociedad/20250702/abusos-universidad-barcelona-ramon-flecha-testimonio-exalumno-profesor-alex-carame-119292865|title=Abuse) at UB: “The Ramón Flecha case is the most serious in a university; there could be more than 40 victims”|access-date=2025-07-07|last=Pereda|first=Olga|date=2025-07-02|website=El Periódico|language=es}}

The testimonies describe incidents spanning the past three decades, including private meetings held in bars or homes, early intimate contact following the development of academic trust, and demands related to physical appearance or domestic tasks.<ref>{{Cite news |title= |url=https://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/excolaboradoras-catedratico-senalado-universitat-barcelona-ponia-limpiar-casa-cocinar\_1\_12432486.html}}</ref> The complainants claim that Flecha used his position to support the academic careers of women (e.g., doctorates, conferences, research projects), thereby fostering a dynamic in which professional advancement was linked to sexual tension.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pereda |first=Olga |date=2025-07-02 |title=Abusos en la UB: 'El caso de Ramón Flecha es el más grave en una universidad, podría haber más de 40 víctimas' |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/sociedad/20250702/abusos-universidad-barcelona-ramon-flecha-testimonio-exalumno-profesor-alex-carame-119292865 |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=El Periódico |language=es}}</ref>

The letter, dated 17 June 2025, requested information from the rector regarding any prior complaints submitted through official UB channels, as well as details on the relationship between the CREA research center and the university. On 1 July, the University responded by expressing willingness to cooperate and directing attention to its internal reporting channels, while clarifying that it had no record of current complaints and had not initiated disciplinary proceedings.{{Cite web|url=[https://elpais.com/sociedad/2025-07-02/14-mujeres-denuncian-en-una-carta-abuso-de-poder-y-coercion-sexual-por-parte-de-un-catedratico-de-la-universidad-de-barcelona.html|title=14](https://elpais.com/sociedad/2025-07-02/14-mujeres-denuncian-en-una-carta-abuso-de-poder-y-coercion-sexual-por-parte-de-un-catedratico-de-la-universidad-de-barcelona.html|title=14) women denounce abuse of power and sexual coercion by a University of Barcelona professor|access-date=2025-07-07|last=Valdés|first=Ivanna Vallespín, Isabel|date=2025-07-02|website=El País|language=es}}

The letter, dated 17 June 2025, requested information from the rector regarding any prior complaints submitted through official UB channels, as well as details on the relationship between the CREA research center and the university. On 1 July, the University responded by expressing willingness to cooperate and directing attention to its internal reporting channels, while clarifying that it had no record of current complaints and had not initiated disciplinary proceedings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Valdés |first=Ivanna Vallespín, Isabel |date=2025-07-02 |title=14 mujeres denuncian en una carta abuso de poder y coerción sexual por parte de un catedrático de la Universidad de Barcelona |url=https://elpais.com/sociedad/2025-07-02/14-mujeres-denuncian-en-una-carta-abuso-de-poder-y-coercion-sexual-por-parte-de-un-catedratico-de-la-universidad-de-barcelona.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=El País |language=es}}</ref>

Following these developments, the parliamentary group Comuns requested that the rector of UB and the Minister of Universities appear before the Parliament of Catalonia to explain both the content of the complaints and the measures being considered in response.{{Cite web|url=[https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20250704/comuns-pide-explicaciones-a-ub-generalitat-por-presunto-acoso-catedratico/16651071.shtml|title=Comuns](https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20250704/comuns-pide-explicaciones-a-ub-generalitat-por-presunto-acoso-catedratico/16651071.shtml|title=Comuns) demands answers from the University of Barcelona and the Catalan government over alleged harassment by professor|access-date=2025-07-07|last=BOLAÑOS|first=VICKY|date=2025-07-04|website=RTVE.es|language=es}}

Following these developments, the parliamentary group Comuns requested that the rector of UB and the Minister of Universities appear before the Parliament of Catalonia to explain both the content of the complaints and the measures being considered in response.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BOLAÑOS |first=VICKY |date=2025-07-04 |title=Comuns pide explicaciones a la Universidad de Barcelona y la Generalitat por el presunto acoso de un catedrático |url=https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20250704/comuns-pide-explicaciones-a-ub-generalitat-por-presunto-acoso-catedratico/16651071.shtml |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=RTVE.es |language=es}}</ref>

Ramón Flecha has categorically denied all accusations, particularly any misconduct involving academic subordinates, stating that “I have never done any of this.” On his account on the social platform X, he described himself as the target of a smear campaign and reaffirmed his long-standing support for victims of gender-based violence.{{Cite web|url=[https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/vida/20250706/ramon-flecha-referente-violencia-genero-acusaciones-coercion/1003742671596\_0.html|title=Ramón](https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/vida/20250706/ramon-flecha-referente-violencia-genero-acusaciones-coercion/1003742671596_0.html|title=Ramón) Flecha, gender violence advocate, denies accusations of sexual coercion and abuse of power|access-date=2025-07-07|date=2025-07-06|website=Crónica Global|language=es}}

Ramón Flecha has categorically denied all accusations, particularly any misconduct involving academic subordinates, stating that “I have never done any of this.” On his account on the social platform X, he described himself as the target of a smear campaign and reaffirmed his long-standing support for victims of gender-based violence.<ref>{{Cite news |title= |url=https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/vida/20250706/ramon-flecha-referente-violencia-genero-acusaciones-coercion/1003742671596\_0.html}}</ref>

== Distinctions and awards ==

== Distinctions and awards ==