Mohamed Al-Fayed, the late Egyptian billionaire and former owner of Harrods, has been accused of sexual abuse by approximately 60 women, according to their lawyers. These allegations come after a recent BBC documentary exposed claims of rape and abuse by multiple women during Fayed’s ownership of the luxury department store.
The accusations against Fayed, who passed away last year at the age of 94, have drawn parallels to other high-profile figures, such as disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who have faced similar allegations of sexual abuse.
Lawyers representing the alleged victims stated that the response to their claims has been overwhelming, with people from around the world coming forward to share their experiences. “Our claim is becoming increasingly global in scope,” the lawyers said in a statement. “We expected that wherever Mohamed Al-Fayed went, abuse would follow, and sadly this has proven to be true.”
The lawyers also revealed that they have obtained credible evidence of abuse at other properties owned by Fayed, in addition to Harrods. This is not the first time allegations have been made against Fayed; in 2008 and 2013, he was accused of sexually assaulting a minor and raping a woman, respectively. However, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) did not pursue charges, citing a lack of “realistic prospect of conviction.”
The lawyers are now calling for an independent and transparent process to evaluate the claims, as the women they represent have lost trust in Harrods and its processes. Harrods’ current managing director, Michael Ward, has acknowledged that Fayed presided over a “toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion, and sexual misconduct” during his tenure.
The allegations against Fayed include a pattern of women being selected for positions close to him, only to be subjected to invasive gynaecological examinations, the results of which were shared with him. When the women attempted to report their abuse, they were allegedly threatened by senior security staff and faced false allegations, ultimately forcing them to leave their positions.
Fayed’s business empire included not only Harrods, which he sold to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund for a reported £1.5 billion ($2.2 billion), but also Fulham Football Club.
