Mohamed al-Fayed, the late Egyptian billionaire and former owner of Harrods, has been accused of rape and sexual abuse by multiple former employees, according to a new BBC documentary titled “al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods.” The documentary, which aired recently, presents allegations from several women who claim they were victimized by al-Fayed during their employment at the luxury department store.
Is Mohamed al-Fayed a womanizer?
The investigation reveals that at least five women allege they were raped by al-Fayed, while a minimum of 15 others report experiencing sexual abuse. These incidents are said to have occurred across various locations, including London, Paris, Saint-Tropez, and Abu Dhabi.
One of the accusers, who was a teenager at the time, described being raped in al-Fayed’s apartment. She characterized him as “a monster, a sexual predator with no moral compass.” Three other women corroborated similar experiences of alleged rape in the same location.
A fifth accuser recounted an incident in Paris at al-Fayed’s Villa Windsor apartment, where she claims she was raped and then instructed to cleanse herself with disinfectant, an act she interpreted as an attempt to erase evidence of the encounter.
How do the victims make their stand clear?
The documentary’s producers noted that these women came forward after viewing al-Fayed’s portrayal in the Netflix series “The Crown,” which depicted his son Dodi’s relationship with Princess Diana following her divorce from Prince Charles. Al-Fayed, who died in 2023 at the age of 94, had previously engaged in a protracted legal battle attempting to prove the British Royal Family’s involvement in the 1997 car crash that claimed the lives of Diana and Dodi.
In response to these allegations, Harrods, which al-Fayed owned from 1985 to 2010 before selling to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, issued a statement expressing shock and condemnation. The company acknowledged past failures in protecting employees and offered a sincere apology to the victims.
Harrods emphasized that the current organization differs significantly from the one under al-Fayed’s ownership, stating that employee welfare is now central to their operations. The company also revealed that since becoming aware of this information in 2023, they have prioritized settling claims expeditiously.
‘We can’t undo the past but…’
“While we cannot undo the past, we have been determined to do the right thing as an organisation, driven by the values we hold today while ensuring that such behaviour can never be repeated in the future,” Harrods stated.
These allegations against al-Fayed represent a stark contrast to his public image and legacy as a prominent businessman. The accusations highlight the ongoing challenges in addressing historical cases of abuse and the importance of creating safe work environments. As the story continues to unfold, it may prompt further discussions about power dynamics in the workplace and the long-term impact of sexual abuse on survivors.
