Over 20 women and girls, all former workers of, alleged Harrods Paedophile, Mohamed Al-Fayed, informed the BBC that they were raped or sexually assaulted by the Egypt-born tycoon and former proprietor of Harrods while alleging that the renowned luxury department store concealed these incidents.
Attorneys for the women—five of whom allege rape and sixteen who claim sexual abuse by Mohamed Al-Fayed—asserted that the case parallels the offences committed by notorious sex offenders, including Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein, and Harvey Weinstein.
During a press event in London on Friday, following the BBC documentary “Mohamed Al-Fayed: Predator At Harrods,” the attorneys characterised Mohamed Al-Fayed, who passed away last year at the age of 94, as a “monster” who exploited young women and girls employed at the department store throughout his 25-year tenure as owner.
“This case combines some of the most horrific elements of the cases involving Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein,” said lead lawyer Dean Armstrong. “Savile because in this case, the institution, we say, knew about the behaviour.”
“Epstein because in that case, as in this, there was a procurement system in place to source the women and girls — as you know, there are some very young victims. And Weinstein, because it was a person at the very top of the organisation who was abusing his power,” he added.
One of Mohamed Al-Fayed’s alleged victims, who went by the name Natacha, told the press conference that the billionaire businessman was “highly manipulative” and “preyed on the most vulnerable, those of us who needed to pay the rent and some of us who didn’t have parents to protect them.”
In a statement given to the BBC documentary, the new owners of Harrods, who bought out Mohamed Al-Fayed in 2010, said they were “utterly appalled” by the allegations of abuse but added that they were only made aware of them last year.
“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,” the owners said.
However, Armstrong queried Harrods’ claim that it knew nothing, as sexual allegations had been made against Mohamed Al-Fayed for decades.
“We are here to say publicly and to the world, or Harrods in front of the world, that it is time that they took responsibility, and it is time that they set matters right, and that is something they should do as soon as possible,” he said.
US lawyer Gloria Allred, who has represented victims in some of the most notorious sexual abuse cases in recent years, including Epstein, Weinstein and Bill Cosby, also spoke.
“Harrods is often referred to as the most beautiful store in the world and many women dreamed of working there, to be associated with this prestigious corporation and to further their careers,” she said. “However, underneath the Harrods glitz and glamour was a toxic, unsafe and abusive environment.”
Mohamed Al-Fayed, also known as Mou Mou, has faced repeated allegations since at least 1997 of using his wealth and stature to engage in sexual harassment, abuse and rape, sometimes involving minors.
In addition to Harrods, Mohamed Al-Fayed owned the famous luxury Ritz hotel in Paris and the Premier League football club Fulham.
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