Al Fayed survivor was modern slavery victim, says Home Office
Summary
The UK Home Office has officially recognized Rachael Louw as a victim of modern slavery after she was abused and trafficked by Mohamed Al Fayed and his brother Salah. This is the first formal confirmation in such a case linked to Al Fayed, who faced numerous allegations but never charged before his death.Key Facts
- Rachael Louw was trafficked and sexually exploited in the UK and France over three years.
- Mohamed Al Fayed, former owner of Harrods, and his brother Salah have been accused by hundreds of women of rape, sexual assault, and trafficking.
- The Home Office’s “conclusive grounds” decision legally confirms Louw as a modern slavery victim, which supports her credibility in court.
- The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) helps identify and support victims of modern slavery and trafficking in the UK.
- Louw reported her case to the Metropolitan Police in 2024, but she felt the trafficking aspect was not initially taken seriously.
- Several other women connected to Al Fayed’s abuse have received initial positive decisions under the NRM and await final rulings.
- Survivor groups and charities like No One Above and Unseen helped support victims and referred their cases to the NRM.
- The Metropolitan Police have expanded their investigation into Al Fayed abuse to include human trafficking and increased resources for the case.
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