Al Fayed abuse ‘could be on scale of Savile’, says survivors’ advocate

Dame Jasvinder Sanghera, who has recently taken on the role of survivors' advocate at Harrods, has made a shocking statement regarding the alleged sexual abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed, suggesting that it could be on a scale similar to that of the notorious Jimmy Savile. Al Fayed, a billionaire businessman and former owner of Harrods, has faced numerous allegations of misconduct since a BBC documentary aired in September, revealing the experiences of 20 women who claim they were victims of his abuse. In her comments, Dame Jasvinder shared that she had been contacted by a former student from a school for deaf children, indicating that Al Fayed had access to vulnerable young women from that institution. She expressed concern that the extent of Al Fayed's actions might be far-reaching, stating, 'His tentacles went far and wide. ' The school has responded by asserting that they were not aware of any access Al Fayed had to their students and emphasized their commitment to safeguarding. Dame Jasvinder further elaborated on the situation during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s World at One, stating, 'We could be talking about something on the scale of Jimmy Savile. ' She highlighted that many survivors have indicated that there were individuals who were aware of Al Fayed's actions but chose to ignore them, saying, 'They looked the other way. This could not have happened without people knowing about it, and he used his position of power and influence. ' Jimmy Savile was a well-known television presenter and DJ who, until his death in 2011, exploited his fame to commit numerous sexual assaults and rapes. Following his passing, the Metropolitan Police revealed that they believed Savile had abused hundreds of individuals, often using charitable work as a cover for his crimes. Dame Jasvinder mentioned that around 290 women are currently involved in Harrods' compensation process for former employees who allege they were abused by Al Fayed, and she has personally reached out to each of them. Additionally, since the documentary aired, over 70 women have contacted the BBC to share their own experiences of abuse by Al Fayed, which include sexual harassment, assault, and rape. However, Dame Jasvinder believes that there are still many others who have not yet come forward. She is eager to connect with all victims of Al Fayed’s abuse, regardless of whether they worked at Harrods or not. Al Fayed is also accused of abusing women at other businesses he owned, 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. ' While the Harrods compensation scheme is limited to former employees, Dame Jasvinder emphasized her commitment to supporting anyone in need, saying, 'I would never turn anybody away that was in need of support. ' She encourages anyone affected by this situation, or who knows someone who is, to reach out to her for assistance. Dame Jasvinder is a well-known human rights advocate and the founder of the charity Karma Nirvana, which supports victims of honor-based abuse. She has previously shared her own experiences of escaping a difficult situation as a teenager and being disowned by her family as a result. Dame Jasvinder also served as a survivor advocate on the Church of England’s Independent Safeguarding Board until the panel was dismissed in June 2023 due to a breakdown in relations between board members and bishops. Harrods initiated an internal review last year to determine whether any individuals involved in the allegations are still employed there, but they have not disclosed any information regarding potential actions taken or the timeline for the review's completion. Hundreds of women are also collaborating with various legal firms to pursue claims against the retailer. At a recent press conference, a group called Justice for Harrods Survivors, which represents some of the accusers, reported that more than 400 alleged victims and witnesses have come forward. While most of the 421 prospective claims are linked to Harrods, others pertain to incidents at other businesses owned by Al Fayed. The survivors include individuals from the UK, US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The BBC documentary, which aired in September, featured testimonies from over 20 former female employees at Harrods. The investigation revealed that during Al Fayed's ownership, Harrods not only failed to intervene but also actively covered up abuse allegations. In response to the investigation, Harrods' current owners expressed their deep dismay over the allegations and acknowledged that the victims had been failed, for which they sincerely apologized.