Mohamed Al Fayed Accused of Systematic Sexual Abuse: Harrods’ Dark History

[Social Media]

 

Five women have come forward accusing the former Harrods owner, Mohamed Al Fayed, of rape, revealing a harrowing history of abuse during his ownership of the luxury London department store. These allegations, corroborated by over 20 former female employees, shed light on the sexual misconduct Fayed allegedly carried out at various locations including London, Paris, St Tropez, and Abu Dhabi. Fayed, who passed away last year at the age of 94, is described by many of the victims as a sexual predator.

 

In a BBC documentary and podcast, Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods, disturbing details emerge of how the store, under Fayed's control, not only ignored but allegedly covered up these claims. Harrods’ current owners have expressed their shock, stating they were “utterly appalled” by the accusations and sincerely apologized to the victims. Bruce Drummond, a barrister representing several of the women, described the culture under Fayed’s reign as a “spider’s web of corruption and abuse.”

 

One of the victims recounts the traumatic experience at Fayed’s Park Lane apartment. “I made it obvious that I didn't want that to happen. I did not give consent. I just wanted it to be over,” she said, recalling the event with pain. Another woman, who was a teenager at the time, echoed similar feelings, describing Fayed as a “monster, a sexual predator with no moral compass.” She added that Harrods' staff were his “playthings,” living in constant fear of him.

 

While Fayed faced some allegations during his lifetime, the extent and severity of these claims, including multiple accusations of rape, are only now being revealed. BBC’s investigation suggests that many more women may have been assaulted during his ownership of Harrods. Some of the women, including Sophia, a former personal assistant to Fayed from 1988 to 1991, are still struggling with the trauma. “He was vile,” she said, stating that she was sexually assaulted multiple times. She feels angered that people may remember him fondly, adding, “That makes me angry, people shouldn't remember him like that. It's not how he was.”

 

The testimonies of these women paint a picture of systemic abuse. Young female employees who caught Fayed’s attention were reportedly promoted to work in his offices, where many were assaulted. The assaults took place not only in Harrods’ offices but also in his London apartment and during foreign trips. Some of the most disturbing incidents are said to have occurred in Paris, at the Ritz hotel and his Villa Windsor property, where former staff recall a sense of helplessness. “We all watched each other walk through that door thinking, ‘you poor girl, it's you today’ and feeling utterly powerless to stop it,” recalled one woman.

 

One of the survivors, Rachel, described how Fayed raped her at his Park Lane apartment. “I remember feeling his body on me, the weight of him. Just hearing him make these noises. And… just going somewhere else in my head. He raped me.” Rachel is one of several women who say they were violated at this location, a site described as heavily secured and monitored by Harrods staff.

 

Former staff members have come forward to confirm that Fayed’s behavior was an “open secret” at Harrods. Tony Leeming, a department manager, stated, “It wasn’t even a secret. And I think if I knew, everybody knew.” Eamon Coyle, the ex-deputy director of security, confirmed that security staff were aware of Fayed’s inappropriate interest in young women. Adding to this, allegations of phone tapping and hidden cameras have surfaced, contributing to the fear that prevented many women from speaking out earlier.

 

Many of these women were also subjected to invasive sexual health checks under the guise of employee benefits, but the results were never shared with them. “There is no benefit to anybody knowing what my sexual health is, unless you're planning to sleep with somebody,” one woman remarked, reflecting on how chilling these procedures now seem.

Though some attempts were made to expose Fayed’s behavior during his lifetime, including investigations by Vanity Fair, ITV’s The Big Story, and Channel 4’s Dispatches, none resulted in significant action. It wasn’t until after Fayed’s death in 2022 that many of the survivors felt able to come forward publicly. The BBC documentary reveals that several women were forced to sign non-disclosure agreements as part of settlements in the past, but Harrods’ current owners are no longer requiring these agreements.

 

Credit: BBC 2024-09-20

 

 

 

[herfiehandbag]

I knew a girl years ago who worked in Harrods during the vacation from University. She was quite "posh", pretty and well spoken, as one would imagine working in the Harrods food hall. I remember her telling me that he was creepy, often hanging around the younger female staff, with what she described as a dirty mouth and wandering hands. They all tried their best to avoid him.

[jippytum]

The  BBC are good at making documentries on sexual preditors  but long after their death.

Turning a 'blind eye ' to  sex offenders  who committed offences  during  years of service with the BBC. 

[Purdey]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

One of the victims recounts the traumatic experience at Fayed’s Park Lane apartment.

Rich men taking advantage of poor girls is an old story.

 

But in his private apartment?

 

Should they have gone there alone with his reputation?

[blazes]

Private Eye ran countless hints at Fayed's unsavoury character over the years.  They always mocked his anger at the British who blocked his greatest desire in life: to be knighted by the Queen.

 

The nearest he got to the royal family was via his son, who was one of the last people to see Princess Di alive...

[oxo1947]

 

Every one of the women that say they were sexually abused , stayed in the job after, working for him.........how mad.........

 

[Scouse123]

3 hours ago, jippytum said:

The  BBC are good at making documentries on sexual preditors  but long after their death.

Turning a 'blind eye ' to  sex offenders  who committed offences  during  years of service with the BBC. 

 

 

I thought and felt exactly the same about the BBC as soon as I saw the headline of the thread.

[Kinok Farang]

7 Mohameds have just been jailed in the UK for raping young girls in Rotherham.It only took the police 20 years to bring them to court.

I wonder how long it will take to get this Mohamed to court?

In other cases,white working class lads,sick to the teeth about how our country has gone to shiit were arrested and jailed in a couple of days.

[Nick Carter icp]

7 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

. I remember her telling me that he was creepy, often hanging around the younger female staff, with what she described as a dirty mouth and wandering hands.

 

   Is that any different to a Pattaya bar ?

Some guys critical of Fayed need to look in the mirror 

[couchpotato]

6 minutes ago, Kinok Farang said:

7 Mohameds have just been jailed in the UK for raping young girls in Rotherham.It only took the police 20 years to bring them to court.

I wonder how long it will take to get this Mohamed to court?

In other cases,white working class lads,sick to the teeth about how our country has gone to shiit were arrested and jailed in a couple of days.

This Mohamed is dead..probably won't be attending court

[couchpotato]

1 minute ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Is that any different to a Pattaya bar ?

Some guys critical of Fayed need to look in the mirror 

Not one of your finer posts Nick..maybe a rethink is in order.

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

Not one of your finer posts Nick..maybe a rethink is in order.

 

   Don't people often have wandering hands in Pattaya bars ? Fayed got away with it because he paid them, as do customers in Pattaya bars 

[Kinok Farang]

4 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

This Mohamed is dead..probably won't be attending court

Hahaha,should have read the full story.Cheers.

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Is that any different to a Pattaya bar ?

Some guys critical of Fayed need to look in the mirror 

I think that it is totally different.

 

Men go into bars in Pattaya looking to do that; the girls work there in the full knowledge, if it the expectation, that it is going to happen.

 

A summer vacation job on the cheese counter in Harrods food hall is rather different.

[PETERTHEEATER]

2 hours ago, Kinok Farang said:

7 Mohameds have just been jailed in the UK for raping young girls in Rotherham.It only took the police 20 years to bring them to court.

I wonder how long it will take to get this Mohamed to court?

In other cases,white working class lads,sick to the teeth about how our country has gone to shiit were arrested and jailed in a couple of days.

Er....he will need to be disinterred to bring him to court.

[Cameroni]

Me Too was going since 2017. Al Fayed died in 2022. 

 

Why did this not come out in the Me Too wave of accusations?

[Bkk Brian]

21 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Me Too was going since 2017. Al Fayed died in 2022. 

 

Why did this not come out in the Me Too wave of accusations?

"The BBC documentary reveals that several women were forced to sign non-disclosure agreements as part of settlements in the past, but Harrods’ current owners are no longer requiring these agreements."

[James105]

Anyone see a pattern here:

 

"In 2009, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), then led by Sir Keir Starmer, elected not to prosecute Mr Al Fayed following claims he had sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl in Harrods."

 

https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/al-fayed-billionaire-whose-alleged-abuse-has-been-under-spotlight-for-years-1674336.html

 

He was a useless in his role in the CPS as he is as PM.  

[Cameroni]

25 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

"The BBC documentary reveals that several women were forced to sign non-disclosure agreements as part of settlements in the past, but Harrods’ current owners are no longer requiring these agreements."

 

Rowenua Chiu, Weinstein's assistant also had an NDA, but wanted to testify against Weinstein. 

[Bkk Brian]

2 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

Rowenua Chiu, Weinstein's assistant also had an NDA, but wanted to testify against Weinstein. 

Your question...............

 

50 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Me Too was going since 2017. Al Fayed died in 2022. 

 

Why did this not come out in the Me Too wave of accusations?

 

The answer was in the OP if you had bothered reading it. 

 

 

 

 

[Kinok Farang]

2 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Er....he will need to be disinterred to bring him to court.

Yes i know now.I've already owned up to my shame in an earlier post.

[Jim Blue]

On 9/20/2024 at 3:53 PM, PETERTHEEATER said:

Er....he will need to be disinterred to bring him to court.

Perhaps reincarnation ???