Key Takeaways:
– 37 women, including six Americans, have accused late billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed of sexual assaults and rapes.
– They allege a system of threats, cover ups, and sexual abuse, some victims as young as 15 and 16.
– Lawyers claim Harrods department store, which Al Fayed formerly owned, had a procurement system to source women and girls for abuse.
– Qatar Investment Authority, current Harrods’ owners, expressed their appallance over the allegations, acknowledging women had been failed by the business.
Former Harrods mogul, Mohamed Al Fayed, Accused of Sexual Assaults
Recently, accusations against Mohamed Al Fayed, the late billionaire and longtime owner of London’s luxury department store Harrods, have come to light. The Egyptian tycoon, who died in August 2023, has been described by his accusers as a “monster” and a “predator.” The accusations originate from his alleged rapes and sexual abuses of several women who worked in his luxury London department store.
The Litany of Accusations Arise
At a news conference in London on Friday, attorney Bruce Drummond announced that 37 women, including six Americans, had come forward to accuse Al Fayed of diverse assaults, with five women alleging rape. The lawyers highlighted a pattern of “cover ups, threats and a quarter century of sexual abuse” suffered by the victims, some of them as young as 15 and 16-years-old.
Prominent American women’s rights advocate, attorney Gloria Allred, is representing the women behind the accusations. At the conference, she revealed that their dream to work in the prestigious corporation turned into a nightmare when they found out about the toxic and abusive environment underneath the surface of glamour.
Prevailing Terror and Cover Ups
The accusers articulated a deep-seated fear, feeling powerless and overwhelmed at the prospect of retaliation. Allegedly, their terror was amplified by threats, surveillance, and even phone tapping. According to Allred, one victim, identified as Natacha, disclosed that Al Fayed strategically targeted the most vulnerable staff members, those without support networks and facing financial struggles.
Natacha has partially waived her anonymity, sharing troubling details of her experience. She claimed she was led by Al Fayed’s security guard to a private room where she was locked in. It was there, she alleges, where Al Fayed forced himself onto her.
Alleged Corporate Enabling and Complicity
The high-end department store, Harrods, sold by Al Fayed in 2010, is accused of facilitating its former owner’s flagrant abuses. Lawyers claim a “procurement system” was in operation to select women and girls for sexual abuse, even requiring some new hires to undergo invasive gynecological exams.
Response from Current Ownership
Current owner of Harrods, the Qatari state-owned state of Qatar Investment Authority, spoke out on the matter. The company conveyed their shock over the allegations and admitted that the women were failed by the business, extending a sincere apology.
Lawyer Dean Armstrong, also representing the women, criticized the systematic failure of corporate responsibility in the store. He believes this case echoes other high-profile cases, likening Al Fayed to notorious figures such as Jimmy Savile and Harvey Weinstein, positioning him as a monster supported by systematic abuse.
As the investigations continue, the legacy of one of the most affluent tycoons is tainted. Lawsuits are on the way, and the victims are seeking justice, shedding light on the dark side of this high-profile retail empire.
Current Harrods’ ownership is now faced with handling the fallout from these shocking allegations. Already, it has started with apologies and acknowledgement. However, the victims and their representation demand much more than that, as they seek justice and systematically implement mechanisms to prevent such abuses in the future. How Harrods, and indeed the broader luxury retail industry, responds to these revelations will be closely watched in the coming months.