Women-only Swedish music festival springs up following Bravalla rape allegations

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Women-only Swedish music festival springs up following Bravalla rape allegations

By Broede Carmody
Updated

A Swedish women's-only festival is on the cards after the country's biggest music festival was scrapped amid dozens of sexual assault allegations.

Bravalla Festival's organisers decided to shut down the four-day festival over the weekend after police were notified of four alleged rapes and more than 20 instances of sexual harassment.

"Some men, because we are talking about men, apparently can't behave," the organisers said in a statement. "It's a shame. Therefore, we have decided not to hold Bravalla in 2018."

Swedish prime minister Stefan Lofven also condemned the incidents - alleged to have occurred between June 28 and July 1 - and called them "obnoxious acts" by "deplorable men".

A police officer attaching a bracelet with the text "tafsainte", meaning don't grope, to a visitor's wrist at the Bravalla Festival in Norrkoping, Sweden, in 2016.

A police officer attaching a bracelet with the text "tafsainte", meaning don't grope, to a visitor's wrist at the Bravalla Festival in Norrkoping, Sweden, in 2016.Credit: Izabelle Nordfjell/AP

Now, local comedian and radio personality Emma Knyckare has decided to start a rival festival. But there's a twist: no men allowed.

"Only non-men are welcome until ALL men have learned how to behave themselves," she tweeted over the weekend.

Swedish singers Linnea Henriksson, Julia Frej and Cleo Missaoui have already expressed interest in performing at the rival festival, according to local tabloid Aftonbladet. The event is due to be held sometime in 2018.

When quizzed about whether it would be discriminatory to bar men from entering, Knyckare told Swedish media it should surely be OK to turn away men for a few days given women face discrimination every single day. In addition, she admitted the festival won't exclude men entirely: fellow Swedish comedian Magnus Betnér - a man - has already offered to help clean-up afterwards.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven learnt of the breach in January.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven learnt of the breach in January.Credit: AP

It remains unclear how the no-men allowed policy will be enforced, and whether the ban extends to queer cis men. However, Knyckare has promised more details will come to light as the festival draws closer.

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