It was recently reported that the former owner of Harrods, the famous English department store, selling fashion, food and homeware, was recently accused of rape and sexual assault by many former female employees. These allegations surfaced after the former owner, Mohamed Al Fayed's death, with five women claiming they were raped by the billionaire while working at the luxury London retailer.
In the most recent development of the case, Harrods has announced that it is currently in the process of settling more than 250 compensation claims from women alleging historical sexual misconduct by Al Fayed. The claims have emerged following a BBC documentary that revealed decades of serious abuse allegations against Al Fayed, who owned Harrods from 1985 until 2010.
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Since the documentary aired, Harrods has acknowledged that it has settled several claims and is actively working to address the allegations. The store's new owners expressed their shock at the revelations and have been investigating potential involvement of current staff in the alleged misconduct. However, they have stated that they will not provide ongoing updates regarding their internal review.
Harrods has established a compensation scheme specifically for ex-employees claiming they were assaulted by Al Fayed, separate from ongoing legal actions initiated by various law firms. The Justice for Harrods Survivors group, representing many of the accusers, is currently collaborating with 147 women, although it remains unclear if there is overlap between those seeking compensation and those involved in legal proceedings.
The BBC documentary, entitled Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, highlights that, rather than addressing abuse claims, Harrods allegedly facilitated a culture that allowed such behaviour to persist. The current owners of Harrods have issued a sincere apology, acknowledging the failure to protect victims during Al Fayed's tenure.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk