five al fayed survivors confirmed as modern slavery victims, uk's home office says
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four women abused by late harrods owner mohamed al fayed were recognized as victims of human trafficking by the uk’s home office on monday.
the former businessman, who died in 2023, has been accused by dozens of women of assault, rape and human trafficking for more than three decades. al fayed never faced any prosecution before he died.
many of the women in those three decades worked on the floor at the london-based luxury department store or were hired as assistants at some of his other business interests, including the ritz hotel in paris.
al fayed owned harrods from 1985 to 2010. he sold the business to qatar holdings for approximately $2.828 billion in may of 2010. he also owned english premier league outfit fulham football club.
following his death in august of 2023, numerous former employees accused the 94-year-old of systemic sexual abuse, rape, and human trafficking during his tenure.
following his death in august of 2023, numerous former employees accused the 94-year-old of systemic sexual abuse, rape, and human trafficking during his tenure.
the four women
the four women — who use the pseudonyms isabella, justine, elizabeth and margo to keep some sense of privacy — have now been recognized as victims of human trafficking.
their experiences, dating back to the 1990s to after 2010, included international and domestic trafficking.
currently, 157 victims have reported allegations to london’s metropolitan police that they were sexually assaulted, raped, or trafficked by al fayed.
the metropolitan police have questioned six people suspected of enabling the egyptian’s offences. no arrests have been made so far. some of them were questioned under suspicion of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
the bbc reported that a fifth victim, rachel louw, who waived her right to anonymity, was trafficked and abused by the former harrods owner and his brother salah fayed.
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“this was one bad man, but he couldn’t have done what he did without harrods processing women to him and silencing them afterwards,” louw told the press association news agency.
at least three other women have been referred to the government’s national referral mechanism (nrm) and are awaiting similar rulings.
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