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Survivors of alleged sexual abuse by former owner of Harrods want enablers to face justice
TL;DR
Fifty survivors of alleged sexual abuse by Harrods' former owner, Mohamed Al Fayed, are demanding accountability for those who enabled the abuse. They seek the release of an internal investigation and more regulation of HR practices.
Key points
- Fifty survivors are demanding accountability for enablers of abuse.
- They want Harrods to release findings of an internal investigation.
- The campaign is supported by notable public figures.
- Survivors question the lack of investigation by authorities.
- They emphasize the need for regulation of HR practices.
Mentioned in this story
Mohamed Al FayedHarrodsMetropolitan PoliceRichard GereDame Vera BairdGloria AllredGina Martin
A group of 50 survivors of alleged sexual abuse by Harrods’ former owner Mohamed Al Fayed are calling for “meaningful consequences” for those who they claim facilitated and ignored the abuse.
“If they think the money is the important factor they are so far off the mark,” said Jen Mills, a member of the Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors group. They claim there are “dozens of individuals who must be held to account”, from a range of eras.
The campaign group, which includes some of those who took part in the redress scheme and others who did not, wants Harrods to release the findings of an internal investigation into what staff knew.
The group, which is being supported by actor Richard Gere, Dame Vera Baird DBC KC, the former victims commissionerfor England and Wales, and women’s rights advocates Gloria Allred and Gina Martin, also wants more regulation of HR professionals overseeing the hiring of new workers and an explanation of why the Metropolitan police and General Medical Council did not investigate women’s complaints at the time.
“It’s not just about what happened to us, it’s about making sure that this stops and that this doesn’t get to continue to the generations coming through,” says Mills, who started working for Al Fayed at Harrods as a 16-year-old.
Harrods last month closed a compensation scheme set up after dozens of women came forward with allegations of abuse by the late entrepreneur going back as far as 1977 after the broadcast last year of the BBC documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods.
A spokesperson for Harrods said: “We recognise differing views, however Harrods has always stated that the scheme represents only one form of redress available to survivors. It was designed to provide resolution without the need for a protracted legal process and to ensure all reasonable legal fees could be paid and the full compensation award would go to the individual. Our commitment to redress does not end with the application deadline.”
More than 220 people engaged with the redress scheme and payments have already been made to 70 people with further claims being processed.
However, some who suffered alleged abuse have not taken part in the scheme for various reasons including having previously accepted compensation.
Q&A
What are the demands of the survivors of abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed?
The survivors are calling for accountability for enablers of the abuse, the release of an internal investigation by Harrods, and increased regulation of HR practices.
Who is supporting the survivors' campaign against Harrods?
The campaign is supported by actor Richard Gere, former victims commissioner Dame Vera Baird, and women's rights advocates Gloria Allred and Gina Martin.
What did the survivors claim about the Metropolitan Police and General Medical Council?
The survivors are questioning why the Metropolitan Police and General Medical Council did not investigate women's complaints at the time of the alleged abuse.
How many individuals do the survivors believe should be held accountable for the abuse at Harrods?
The survivors claim that there are dozens of individuals who must be held accountable for facilitating and ignoring the abuse.
