Shocking Allegations Emerge: 20 Women Come Forward to Accuse Billionaire Mohammed Al-Fayed of Rape
Allegations of Rape and Abuse Against Former Harrods Owner Mohammed Al-Fayed
Friday, September 20, 2024
Multiple Women Come Forward with Allegations of Rape and Abuse
A recent BBC documentary and podcast titled “Al-Fayed Lurks in Harrods” has brought to light allegations of rape and abuse against former Harrods owner Mohammed Al-Fayed. The documentary features testimony from over 20 former female employees who claim they were sexually assaulted by Al-Fayed, including cases of rape.
The allegations suggest that Al-Fayed would often select young female assistants he found attractive during his tours of the store’s sales floor and promote them to work in his office upstairs. The attacks allegedly took place at Harrods’ offices, Al-Fayed’s apartment in London, or during trips abroad.
One woman claimed that Al-Fayed raped her in his apartment in Park Lane, London, stating that she did not give her consent and just wanted to end the matter. Another woman alleged that she was a teenager when Al-Fayed raped her in the Mayfair area.
Sofia, who worked as Al-Fayed’s personal assistant from 1988 to 1991, said he tried to rape her multiple times. “It makes me angry,” she said. “People don’t remember him like that. He wasn’t like that.”
The documentary also features testimony from former employees who claim that Al-Fayed’s behavior was even more appalling during foreign business trips. One woman alleged that she was raped inside Windsor Villa in Paris’ Bois de Boulogne, the former home of King Edward VIII and his wife Wallis Simpson.
Tony Leeming, department manager at Harrods from 1994 to 2004, claimed that he was aware of the mistreatment of women during his time at the store. “I think as far as I know, everybody knows and anyone who says they don’t know is a liar,” he said.
Eamonn Coyle, who joined Harrods as a store investigator in 1979, then became deputy director of security from 1989-1995, said that Al-Fayed had an intense interest in young women. He also claimed that part of his job was to listen to tapes of recorded calls, explaining that cameras that could record were installed throughout the store, including the executive suite.
The allegations have sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for greater accountability and support for victims of abuse. The current owners of Harrods have expressed deep regret over the allegations and have promised to take steps to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
Medical Tests and Surveillance
Several women claimed that when they began working directly with Al-Fayed, they underwent medical tests, including sexual health tests administered by doctors. These tests were allegedly given to them as an added benefit, but many of them did not see their results, which were sent to Al-Fayed instead.
“There’s no point in anyone knowing about my sexual health, unless you’re planning to have sex with someone, which I find very scary now,” said Catherine, who was an executive assistant in 2005.
A group of women also believe that Harrods’ phones were tapped, and they were afraid to speak to each other about Al-Fayed’s abuse for fear of being filmed by hidden cameras.