Main Index

Section Six Index:
Mohamed 'Al' Fayed - the facts

Articles 16-56

J B Hunt explains the significance of the British media's reporting of the Harrods Affair to its reporting of the 'Cash for Questions' Affair a decade later, and explains an additional personal reason that compelled him to post these articles on the Internet.

Introduction

"Harrods: Not over yet" by Melvyn Marckus
The Observer's City editor reports the events immediately following Tiny Rowland's unexpected sale to Mohamed 'Al' Fayed of Lonrho's 29.9% stake in House of Fraser

No. 1: The Observer
4 Nov. 1984

"Mohamed Al Fayed speaks..." by Michael Gillard
Financial journalist Michael Gillard reports on Harrods' new shareholder.  Based on Fayed's own rendition and written in good faith, much of what Gillard wrote is false.

No. 2: The Observer
4 Nov. 1984

"The Fabulous Pharaoh" by Brian Vine
Fleet Street's seminal gushing profile of Mohamed Fayed.  Written in good faith on Fayed's own account, it was later proved to consist almost entirely of falsehoods.

No. 3: The Daily Mail
10 Nov. 1984

"Wrangle over Fraser shares" & "No peace for Fraser"
The first doubts are aired about the Fayed brothers' claims: The Guardian's financial staff reveal that the Egyptians' acquisition of Lonrho's stake in House of Fraser has a "Far Eastern" dimension; while the Daily Telegraph's City desk exposes that Mohamed Fayed held a power of attorney from the Sultan of Brunei.

No.4: The Guardian
8 Dec. 1984; &
No. 5: The Telegraph
19 Dec. 1984

"Bid alert at Harrods" by Melvyn Marckus
The Observer's City editor warns that the Fayed brothers' anticipated bid for House of Fraser is likely to be made with funds that are not their own.

No. 6: The Observer
3 March 1985

"The Pharaoh who's poised to rule Harrods" by Brian Vine
The Daily Mail sends Conservative Trade Secretary Norman Tebbit a second strong indication that the paper endorses the Fayed brothers' takeover bid for House of Fraser.

No. 7: The Daily Mail
8 March 1985

"Selling the national jewels" by Ivan Fallon
With Trade Secretary Tebbit's decision imminent on whether to approve the Fayeds' bid for House of Fraser, the Sunday Times joins the Daily Mail in voicing its support.

No. 8: Sunday Times
10 March 1985

"Harrods: Tebbit holds the key"/"This bloody Harrods battle" by Melvyn Marckus
The Observer's City Editor warns the Conservative Government of the many unanswered questions about the Fayed brothers' bid for House of Fraser.

No. 9: The Observer
10 March 1985

"Harrods and the Sphinx" by Melvyn Marckus
Marckus berates Trade Secretary Norman Tebbit for approving the Fayeds' bid without a reference to the Monopolies Commission; and calls on him to appoint DTI Inspectors.

No. 10: The Observer
17 March 1985

"New light on the Al-Fayeds" by the Observer's City staff
The Observer alludes to Mohamed Fayed's dealings in Haiti, and reveals that contrary to his claims his father was not a cotton millionaire but rather a humble school inspector.

No. 11: The Observer
17 March 1985

"The great £615m shopping bag" by Andrew Cornelius, Geoff Gibbs & Mary Brasier
In the first systematic study of the Fayed brothers' bid for House of Fraser, the Guardian's financial team find little to support the Egyptians' claimed business empire.

No. 12: The Guardian
21 March 1985

"The Al-Fayed enigma remains" by Jim Levi
The Observer's deputy business editor voices concern over the difficulty in identifying the Fayeds' assets; and their financial activities routed through Liechtenstein.

No. 13: The Observer
24 March 1985

"Harrods: A personal view by R.W. (Tiny) Rowland" by Tiny Rowland
The Daily Telegraph grants Lonrho's chief executive and the Observer's chairman a platform to air his criticisms over the sale of Harrods to the Fayed brothers.

No. 14: The Telegraph
29 March 1985

"The mystery of the Al-Fayeds" by Duncan Campbell-Smith
In the most detailed scrutiny of the Fayeds to date, the Financial Times' specialist in Arab affairs raises serious doubts as to their claimed wealth and family background.

No. 15:Financial Times
31 May 1985

Articles 16-56