The late Egyptian billionaire Mohammed al Fayed had sexually abused female employees working at the London department store Harrodshad forced them to undergo preventive medical tests and threatened them with consequences if they tried to protest, lawyers for the alleged victims said.
A woman who had worked for Fayed at the Knightsbridge luxury store called him a “monster”.
Harrods apologized on Thursday after at least 20 women came forward BBC that al-Fayed had sexually abused and in some cases raped them. He died last year at the age of 94.
“Beneath the glitz and glamor of Harrods was a toxic, dangerous and abusive environment,” the lawyer said. Gloria Allred at a press conference.
He said the charges include serial rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse of minors spanning 25 years.
Another lawyer, Mr Dean Armstrongstated that the lawyers represent 37 women and that this number is likely to increase.
Natasha is one of them.
“His obituary a year ago gave me a very strong feeling,” she told reporters. “I couldn’t believe that monster had spared her.”
According to a BBC documentary broadcast yesterday, Thursday, Harrods did not intervene and helped cover up allegations of abuse while al-Fayed owned it from 1985 to 2010.
He always denied the accusations.
The lawyer Maria Moula stated that when female employees were selected for positions such as secretary or personal assistant, they had to undergo medical tests such as Pap smears and ovarian exams.
“If women asked why the tests were necessary, they were told… [πώς] he wants to be sure you’re clean,” Moula said.
The workers faced threats if they dared to complain about the abuse, she said.
Harrods said it was “shocked” by the evidence.
“These were the actions of an individual determined to abuse his power,” they said in a statement. “We also recognize that during this period we disappointed our employees who fell victim to him and for that we sincerely apologize.”
Al Fayed sold Harrods to the Qatari royal family’s investment scheme in a deal reportedly worth £1.5bn in 2010.
The department store said it is a “very different organization” today.
Hotel representative Ritz in Paris, which was also owned by al-Fayed, said it “strongly condemns any type of behavior inconsistent with the company’s values.”
In 2009, prosecutors decided not to press charges against al-Fayed for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in his shop, saying there was no realistic prospect of a conviction.
“After new information came to light in 2023 about past sexual abuse by al-Fayed, it was our priority to settle the claims as quickly as possible, avoiding lengthy legal proceedings for the women involved,” Harrods said.
The process for those wishing to claim compensation is still available to any current or former Harrods employee.
Armstrong said Harrods knew about al-Fayed’s behavior before 2023 and should have admitted it earlier.
Lawyers said the victims deserved justice and would seek legal action against Harrods because of “collective corporate responsibility” for what happened.
“Meaningful accountability means having your own voice and being able to tell your story,” Armstrong said.
Read also:
Israel launched an investigation after videos of soldiers disposing of dead Palestinians
Portugal: Forest fires under control – 7 dead – 1,000,000 hectares reduced to ashes
In Ukraine, von der Leyen with a loan of tens of billions of euros
Hezbollah distributed buzzers hours before blasts – ‘We discovered many electronic issues, but not the buzzers’
Air raid by Israel in Beirut – The first information
Lebanon: UN peacekeeping force calls for immediate de-escalation amid heavy Israeli bombardment
Putin urges Russians to … have children on breaks from work
How Israel blew up Hezbollah bombers?
#Britain #Scandal #late #owner #Harrods #Mohamed #Fayed #abused #employees
