The United Kingdom's Home Office has formally recognized four women as victims of human trafficking in connection with the late Mohamed Al-Fayed. This decision, reached through the government's National Referral Mechanism, marks a significant development in the long-running investigation into the former Harrods owner. The women, who use the pseudonyms Isabella, Justine, Elizabeth, and Margo, are part of an advocacy group called No One Above. They were referred to the government's support framework by the charity Unseen UK and received conclusive findings between May and July of this year.
These findings follow a similar ruling in April for Rachael Louw, another survivor who reported abuse by Al-Fayed and his brother, Salah. The cases involve incidents spanning from the 1990s to after 2010, occurring both within the UK and internationally. The victims have described a systematic environment where they were recruited for roles at Harrods or other Al-Fayed businesses, only to be subjected to sexual exploitation. Survivors argue that these events could not have occurred without institutional support, suggesting that the business environment facilitated the abuse and helped silence those involved.
Mohamed Al-Fayed, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 94, never faced prosecution during his lifetime. However, since a 2024 BBC investigation brought widespread attention to the allegations, more than 150 individuals have come forward to police with claims of assault, rape, and trafficking. The Metropolitan Police have since expanded their inquiry to specifically include human trafficking, strengthening their team with specialists in modern slavery. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to contact other potential victims who may be eligible for support under the National Referral Mechanism.