Twenty-three individuals levied allegations of sexual misconduct against Mohamed Al-Fayed.
As portrayed by a BBC report, a multitude of females have levied accusations against Mohamed Al-Fayed, the past proprietor of London's esteemed luxury department store Harrods. These allegations encompass rape, physical violence, and sexual harassment. The BBC disclosed that they had conversed with over 20 women for a documentary and podcast, who accused Al-Fayed, who passed away at the age of 94 last year, of such misconduct.
The documentary titled "Al Fayed: Harrods' Predator" claims that five former employees asserted they had been raped by the department store's top boss, five more claimed attempted rape, and thirteen reported experiences of sexual harassment from their superior. Al-Fayed is said to have frequently summoned employees to his London apartment in the evenings for overtime work, which often evolved into inappropriate situations.
Previously, allegations had surfaced that Al-Fayed had groped and sexually assaulted women. An investigation into alleged rape was reportedly discontinued in 2015. A former Harrods manager informed the BBC that the boss's sexual misconduct was an open secret within the company, with jokes and references made about it being commonplace.
Harrods settles with certain women
The current custodians of the luxury department store Harrods expressed "profound shock" upon learning of these abuse allegations. "As a company," they said, "we let down our employees who were his victims, and we sincerely apologize." Last July, Harrods agreed to its initial out-of-court settlements with females who had claimed to have been sexually assaulted by Al-Fayed between the late 1980s and late 2000s.
Mohamed Al-Fayed was the father of Dodi Al-Fayed, who tragically passed away in 1997 alongside Diana, the then-wife of Prince Charles, in a car crash in Paris. In 2010, Al-Fayed, an Egyptian-born individual, sold the well-known luxury department store for an estimated €2 billion to an investment fund from the emirate of Qatar.
The European Union expressed concern over the reported misconduct at Harrods, calling for stricter workplace regulations and protections for employees. The European Commission's spokesperson stated, "These allegations underscore the importance of ensuring a safe and respectful working environment for all, regardless of their position within an organization."
Given the magnitude of the accusations, some critics questioned the role of accountability and governance within the European Union, particularly in relation to multinational corporations operating within its territories.
