CW: This article contains multiple references to sexual violence.
Eleanor Harvey
Over 400 alleged victims and witnesses have accused the late billionaire businessman Mohamed Al Fayed of sexual misconduct.
Al Fayed, who died last year, faced multiple accusations of sexual assault during his lifetime but was never charged with any offences.
However, a recent BBC documentary featuring 20 alleged victims of Al Fayed has led to many more women — mostly his former employees — coming forward with accusations.
WHO WAS MOHAMED AL FAYED?
Mohamed Al Fayed was a high-profile Egyptian-born businessman who owned an extensive property empire including the Ritz Hotel in Paris, the British department store Harrods and Fulham Football Club.
Al Fayed was born into a relatively poor family in Alexandria in 1929, but rose through the ranks as a businessman to eventually become a billionaire in Britain. He sold Harrods in 2010 for around £900 million and Fulham Football Club in 2013 for £121 million.
“Several women made accusations […] against Al Fayed during his lifetime”
Al Fayed experienced multiple controversies, including admitting he paid MPs to help him gain British citizenship, which he never achieved. He was also accused of numerous other financial crimes and repeatedly lied about his background.
Several women made accusations of sexual assault against Al Fayed during his lifetime. He was officially interviewed by the police in 2009 and 2013. However, he consistently denied the allegations and was never charged.
He was also well-known as the father of Dodi Al Fayed, the partner of Princess Diana who was killed alongside her in a car crash in 1997.
Mohamed Al Fayed later repeatedly expressed support for the conspiracy theory that Prince Philip orchestrated their deaths.
Al Fayed died in August 2023 at the age of 94. At the time he lived with his second wife Heini and four other children.
WHAT ARE THE ALLEGATIONS?
The recent wave of accusations against Al Fayed originated from the BBC’s documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, in which 20 women formerly employed at the department store alleged he sexually assaulted or raped them.
“Hundreds more women and witnesses have now come forward”
The alleged victims claim that Al Fayed exploited his position to target young female employees, and that his actions were a well-known practice within the company.
Hundreds more women and witnesses have now come forward, with over 250 individuals seeking compensation from Harrods for helping to cover up Al Fayed’s alleged crimes.
The accusations against Al Fayed date from between 1977 and 2013 and have also been made by women at other organisations he was involved in, including four former members of the Fulham Women’s Team.
Multiple others claim to have witnessed or been aware of Al Fayed’s behaviour at the time.
Former Fulham Women’s manager Gaute Haugenes claimed the club tried to stop female players from being alone with Al Fayed due to knowledge of his predatory behaviour.
Three other women say they were also sexually assaulted by Al Fayed’s brother, Salah Fayed.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE?
Justice for Harrods Survivors — the group of lawyers officially representing Al Fayed’s alleged victims — have said that they are now pursuing legal action on behalf of 147 women.
“The company has appointed an official advocate for survivors”
Current managing director of Harrods Michael Ward, who worked at the business alongside Al Fayed between 2005 and 2010, apologised to the alleged victims via the BBC. He said: “I am dreadfully sorry for what has happened with Al Fayed.”
The company has also appointed an official advocate for survivors, Dame Jasvinder Sanghera. Her role is to help alleged victims through the official compensation process. She described Al Fayed as “a predator who exploited his position and power to systemically abuse women.”
A separate controversy has emerged over the Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecutions Service’s handling of reports made to them during his lifetime, which had been dismissed without charge. An independent watchdog will now investigate whether two accusations made in 2008 and 2013 were mishandled by the force.
The Met have stated they are now looking into whether anyone still living can be charged in relation to the alleged crimes, given Al Fayed’s death.
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Feature image courtesy of JOE Planas on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license can be found here.
Eleanor Harvey
Eleanor is in her second year of studying English at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her interests include British and French politics, tennis, and all things books.