Editing Swedish Academy (section)

==== 1989 Rushdie affair ====
Following the Academy meeting on 23 February 1989, members [[Kerstin Ekman]] and [[Lars Gyllensten]] resigned from their seats in protest to the Academy's refusal to condemn Iran's death decree against writer [[Salman Rushdie]] for his novel ''[[The Satanic Verses]]'', which was considered blasphemous by Moslems.<ref name="upi" /> "I am so disappointed and sad that the Academy couldn't choose sides for or against Rushdie," Ekman said. "The academy should have supported Rushdie, it is a question of freedom of speech." Gyllensten said: "Death threats and oppression from Iranian fundamentalists are violations of everything the Academy stands for."<ref name="upi" /> Shortly after, a third member, [[Werner Aspenström]], also left his seat. Aspenström did not reveal his reasons for resigning but indicated support for a stronger statement by the Academy on the Rushdie case.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-01-26-mn-22408-story.html |title=Werner Aspenstrom; Swedish Poet Who Quit Nobel Group |date=26 January 1997 |publisher=Los Angeles Times }}</ref> At the time it was not possible for a member to formally resign and be replaced, as they were elected for life, so the number of Academy members were reduced following the controversy.<ref name="upi" /> 

The Academy's decision to stay with its traditional policy not to make any political statements in an effort to avoid any accusations of a politicization of the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]] was heavily criticized by various commentators in the Swedish press.<ref name="upi" />

In March 2016, the Swedish Academy condemned the death warrant against Salman Rushdie.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.svenskaakademien.se/en/press/press-release-from-the-swedish-academy |title=Press release from the Swedish Academy |date=24 March 2016 |publisher=Swedish Academy }}</ref>