Harrods’ newly appointed survivors’ advocate, Dame Jasvinder Sanghera, has suggested that the scale of sexual abuse allegations against the late billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed could be comparable to those of Jimmy Savile. Following a BBC documentary in September that featured claims from 20 women, the number of alleged victims has dramatically increased.
Dame Jasvinder has been contacted by approximately 290 women engaged in Harrods’ compensation process and over 70 additional women who have reached out to the BBC with accounts of abuse. She believes the actual number of victims could be even higher, with allegations spanning multiple businesses owned by Al Fayed, including Harrods, the Ritz Paris hotel, and Fulham FC.
A particularly concerning allegation involves a former pupil from a school for deaf children, suggesting Al Fayed “had access to vulnerable young women.” The school has stated it is unaware of any such access and takes safeguarding seriously.
Dame Jasvinder emphasized that the abuse “could not have happened without people being complicit” and that many individuals likely “looked the other way” while Al Fayed used his position of power and influence. This parallels the case of Jimmy Savile, who was identified by Metropolitan Police as having approximately 450 victims and often used philanthropic work as a cover for his crimes.
Justice for Harrods Survivors, representing the accusers, reported that 421 prospective claims have been made, with victims from the UK, US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The BBC documentary “Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods” revealed that during his ownership, Harrods not only failed to intervene but potentially helped cover up abuse allegations.
Harrods’ current owners have responded by saying they are “utterly appalled” by the allegations and have apologized for failing the victims. The company has launched an internal review to determine if anyone involved in the allegations is still employed, though they have not disclosed details about potential actions or the review’s completion.
Dame Jasvinder, a prominent human rights campaigner and founder of the charity Karma Nirvana, has committed to supporting all potential victims. She has encouraged anyone affected or knowing someone affected to contact her, regardless of whether they worked at Harrods.
Her background includes being a survivor advocate on the Church of England’s Independent Safeguarding Board and personal experience with honor-based abuse, having been disowned after escaping a forced marriage as a teenager.
The investigation continues, with Dame Jasvinder emphasizing her willingness to provide support and guidance to all potential victims, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to addressing these serious allegations.
