Al Fayed Abuse Potential Compared to Savile’s Scale, Says Harrods Advocate

Harrods’ recently appointed advocate for survivors has informed the BBC that the extent of Mohamed Al Fayed’s sexual abuse may be comparable to that of Jimmy Savile. Following a BBC documentary in September that aired the accounts of 20 women, numerous allegations have emerged against the deceased billionaire entrepreneur. Dame Jasvinder Sanghera, commenting on her appointment earlier in the current month, mentioned receiving contact from a former student of a school catering to deaf children. She stated that Al Fayed “had access to vulnerable young women from that school,” and further indicated that the testimonies she had received implied Al Fayed’s “tentacles went far and wide.” The school informed the BBC that, to its knowledge, Al Fayed did not have access to the institution, and that it treats safeguarding with utmost seriousness. Dame Jasvinder conveyed to BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme, “We could be talking about something on the scale of Jimmy Savile.” She added: “What we do know is that there are many people – and survivors have said this to me already – that were complicit [in Al Fayed’s abuse].” She continued, “They looked the other way. This could not have happened without people knowing about it, and he used his position of power and influence.” Savile was recognized as one of Britain’s most infamous and prolific sexual offenders. As a television presenter and DJ, he exploited his prominent standing to rape and sexually assault hundreds of individuals until his passing in 2011. The Metropolitan Police stated in 2012 that they estimated 450 victims of Savile’s abuse. He frequently employed philanthropic activities as a disguise for his offenses. Dame Jasvinder further stated that approximately 290 women are presently participating in Harrods’ compensation scheme for ex-employees who allege abuse by Al Fayed, and she had sent a personalized letter to every one of them. Independently, over 70 women have reached out to the BBC since the documentary aired, providing testimonies of abuse by Al Fayed, encompassing sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape. However, Dame Jasvinder is of the opinion that additional individuals have not yet reported their experiences. She also expressed her eagerness to communicate with all victims of Al Fayed’s abuse, regardless of whether they were employed at Harrods. Allegations suggest that Al Fayed also abused women at other enterprises he possessed, such as the Ritz Paris hotel and Fulham FC. She stated: “If you look at the breadth of the abuse, this didn’t just happen in Harrods. I’m already hearing from survivors who are saying this happened in other areas.” The compensation program offered by Harrods is exclusively available to individuals who were employed by the firm. However, Dame Jasvinder affirmed that she “would never turn anybody away that was in need of support – even if they need to access me to talk that through, for me to be able to identify the appropriate level of support or process for them.” She added: “I would absolutely encourage anyone affected by this, or who may know somebody that’s affected, who just wants to have a conversation about the process, to absolutely contact me.” Dame Jasvinder is a distinguished human rights advocate and the creator of the charity Karma Nirvana, which assists individuals affected by honour-based abuse. She has previously recounted how her parents tried to compel her into marriage during her teenage years, her subsequent escape, and her disownment. Furthermore, Dame Jasvinder served as a survivor advocate on the Church of England’s Independent Safeguarding Board until the board’s dismissal in June 2023, a decision made by the Church citing that relations between board members and bishops had “broken down.” Harrods initiated an internal investigation last year to ascertain if any individuals implicated in allegations remain employed at the establishment. To date, they have refused to disclose whether any measures have been enacted against specific persons, or when the review is expected to conclude. Additionally, hundreds of women are collaborating with distinct legal practices in pursuing claims against the retail company. During a press conference held last month, Justice for Harrods Survivors, an organization representing some of the complainants, reported that over 400 alleged victims and witnesses had contacted them. The group stated that the majority of the 421 potential claims were linked to Harrods, while others pertained to occurrences at different businesses owned by Al Fayed. The legal representatives further mentioned that the survivors originated from the UK, US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The documentary “Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods,” broadcast in September, featured testimonies from over 20 former female employees of Harrods. The documentary and accompanying podcast revealed that during Al Fayed’s tenure as owner, Harrods not only neglected to intervene but also contributed to concealing allegations of abuse. In response to the investigation, the current proprietors of Harrods expressed that they were “utterly appalled” by the accusations and acknowledged that Al Fayed’s victims had been let down, for which the store extended a sincere apology. Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods A BBC inquiry into accusations of rape and attempted rape involving Mohamed Al Fayed, the previous owner of Harrods. Did the upscale department store shield a billionaire predator? View “Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods” on BBC iPlayer presently. Tune into World of Secrets, Season 4: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods on BBC Sounds. For listeners outside the UK, it is accessible wherever podcasts are obtained. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.