A sensation journalist: Who is Mazher Mahmood?

Journalist Mazher Mahmood is known for using fake identities to trap celebrities, athletes, and even members of the royal family and reveal their secrets. His victims include the likes of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, Newcastle United bosses Freddy Shepperd and Douglas Hall, and popstar Tulisa, a former X Factor judge. The journalist received the title of Fake Sheikh as a result of infiltrating the circles of the people he covered in his news, pretending to be an Arab businessman.

20 years career

Mazher Mahmood's last major crime was the news he made in 2013, leading to the arrest of X Factor judge Tulisa as a drug supplier. Tulisa explained that Mahmood and his team pretended to be a famous producer and brought her into the trap, and she won the legal battle.

Mazher Mahmood (born 22 March 1963) is a British journalist who was convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Before his conviction, he worked mainly for the tabloid press. He spent 20 years working for the News of the World and the Sunday Times, during which time he was responsible for numerous investigations, including a reputed 94 that led to convictions. He won Reporter of the Year in 2011, as well as Scoop of the Year and the Sports Journalists' Association award, for an investigation of cricket match-fixing. Later, from its foundation in 2012, he worked for the Sun on Sunday, successor to the News of the World.

Mazher Mahmood from Birmingham, an award-winning journalist including the reporter of the year in 2011, is the child of a Pakistani immigrant family. During his 20-year career, he made a lot of influential news that led to the investigations he carried out being brought to justice. He worked for many years at News of the World, which is now closed and was founded by Rupert Murdoch. After the liquidation of News of the World, he continued his career at The Sun. He is praised by some of his colleagues whose views are included in the documentary for exposing injustices. These colleagues say that the subjects of Mahmood's news are rich people who are willing to do bad things because of their greed, that such sensational reporting was accepted as a norm in the 90s, and that journalists should not be demonized according to today's politics and values. However, the majority of people criticize him for crossing the line and ruining people's lives and careers.

£500 thousand to Fergie

One of the Fake Sheik's famous news is this: He made Fergie, Duchess of York, say that she could arrange a meeting with her ex-husband Andrew in exchange for 500 thousand pounds. Perhaps one of the most striking news is that the Duchess recorded the words "If you look after me, I will look after you and open every door for you." But of course, it doesn't end there. He also uncovered scandalous conversations in which he took Newcastle United officials Freddy Shepperd and Douglas Hall to a brothel in Marbella in 1999, then mocked fans and belittled women in the north of England by calling them of poor quality. Another bombshell is that he made football coach Sven-Göran Eriksson say that Aston Villa club would be sold in 2006 and that David Beckham could leave Real Madrid and come back. Because of this news, Erikkson had to leave his job even though his contract was valid for two more years.

Mazher Mahmood has an extraordinary career. It is certain that his actions will not be welcomed, especially by those who have something to hide. On the other hand, Mahmood and his team were not detectives or intelligence agents, after all. Investigative journalism is nothing like this. The news ended the professional and private lives of many people and caused them to experience a great collapse. But there are also those who do not take this bait. For example, Victoria Beckham, who she claimed would be kidnapped for ransom. As a result of the lawsuit filed by his last victim, Tulisa, Mahmood was sentenced to 15 months in prison for tampering with evidence. After serving his sentence, he had to change his identity. It is said that the journalist who had to end his press life will be able to continue in the online media under a pseudonym.