‘Lifting the shame that was never mine to carry’ – alleged victim of Al Fayed associate
‘Lifting the shame that was never mine to carry’ – alleged victim of Al Fayed associate
Lifting the shame that was never – Warning: This article contains upsetting content. A woman who claims she was raped and trafficked by someone linked to the businessman Mohamed Al Fayed has been flagged as a potential modern slavery victim. Joanna Brittan, from Devon, recounts her experience in a recent interview, nearly a decade after first approaching the police with her allegations. She expresses relief at finally being able to shed the burden of shame she never deserved, a feeling she says has grown stronger as new evidence emerges.
A Decade of Waiting for Justice
In 2017, Joanna reported multiple instances of sexual assault by Ahmed Obaidly, a UAE diplomat, and his alleged involvement in trafficking her back to the UK in 1990. The case has now entered the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), a government framework designed to identify individuals who may be victims of modern slavery. Despite the process, Joanna remains hopeful that her story could inspire others to share theirs.
“It makes me feel really excited that I can finally lift the shame that was never mine to carry,” Joanna Brittan says. “Almost a decade has passed since I first spoke to the police about what happened to me.”
Joyna, who has chosen to reveal her identity publicly, believes her courage to speak out could help uncover a network of abuse. Both Obaidly and Al Fayed have since passed away, but she insists the investigation should continue to hold those who enabled the abuse accountable.
Details of the Alleged Abuse
Joanna’s narrative begins in 1990, when she returned to the UK from her time in Qatar. She applied for a position managing the estate of a UAE royal, only to face an abrupt shift in her circumstances. According to her account, her recruiter insisted on testing her for sexually transmitted infections at the UAE embassy, a requirement she says felt coercive and demeaning.
“It was disgusting,” Joanna explains. “She bullied me. She said there was no job unless I agreed. It wasn’t a perk—it was compulsory.”
She alleges that Obaidly later offered her housing, during which he raped her three times. “He came in at night when I was asleep,” she recalls. “There was no way to escape. I felt myself leaving my body. I described it to the police as if I was watching from the ceiling.” Joanna remained in the situation due to the influence of her employers and her own loyalty, as well as a lack of alternative options.
Investigation Progress and Legal Context
Joanna’s case was forwarded to the Metropolitan Police in December 2017, following her initial statement to Devon & Cornwall Police. At that time, the Met did not take further action, citing Obaidly’s death in 2015 and insufficient evidence to pursue Al Fayed before his passing in 2023. However, the current NRM referral marks a renewed effort to reassess the case under updated legislation.
The Metropolitan Police is now conducting an active inquiry into those who may have supported or facilitated Al Fayed’s alleged offenses. Authorities emphasize that their methods have “moved on immeasurably” and that their teams have refined their approach to investigating sexual crimes. Joanna has been reinterviewed as part of this process, with the NRM providing a pathway to formal recognition of her ordeal.
Broader Scrutiny and Additional Testimonies
Joanna is not the only woman to accuse Obaidly of sexual violence. Another individual, speaking anonymously, claims she was assaulted in 1989 by Al Fayed’s brother, Salah, and another man at a property in Park Lane. This testimony, along with Joanna’s, highlights a pattern of abuse that may have extended beyond individual acts to a systemic network.
Joanna’s decision to come forward was influenced by a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary about Al Fayed, which she watched with a sense of urgency. “I wasn’t taking notes, I wasn’t a PA. I felt like I was being paraded like a trophy,” she says of the meeting with Al Fayed at Harrods. She then recalls being driven in a locked limousine to his Surrey estate, where she was pressured into becoming a nanny.
“I didn’t know why I was there,” Joanna says. “There was a memory gap, and I feared I had been drugged and abused during that time.”
Joanna cannot recall the exact moment she left the property or how long she stayed. She emphasizes that these allegations were made years before recent widespread media attention, underscoring the long-standing nature of the abuse. The Met is now urging anyone with information to step forward, as the investigation seeks to uncover further connections within the network.
A Call for Wider Accountability
Joanna’s testimony has sparked renewed interest in the case, with calls for a broader examination of how power dynamics might have allowed the abuse to persist. She believes that identifying those who enabled the offenses is crucial for creating lasting change. “Obaidly and Al Fayed should have come to justice,” she says. “But if those who allowed it to happen are finally held accountable, then maybe something can still change.”
As the Metropolitan Police continues its investigation, the case remains a focal point for discussions on modern slavery and sexual exploitation. Joanna’s story, though personal, reflects the broader challenges faced by victims in navigating a system that may have overlooked their plight for years. Her determination to share her experience offers a glimmer of hope for others who may still be struggling in silence.