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Tony McMahon

Journalist
Tony McMahon

Journalist

Investigative historian, published author, and journalist.

- Friday 13th and the end of the Knights Templar
  
  Friday the 13th’s dark reputation dates back to October 13, 1307, when King Philip IV ordered the mass arrest of the Knights Templar, turning the date into a symbol of betrayal and doom.
  
  Friday the 13th’s dark reputation dates back to October 13, 1307, when King Philip IV ordered the mass arrest of the Knights Templar, turning the date into a symbol of betrayal and doom.
  
  February 13, 2026
- Exclusive to The Beiruter, Iranian activist Lily Moo: This is the end!
  
  With nationwide unrest escalating and state violence intensifying, Iranian opposition voices increasingly point to Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as a unifying figure for a democratic, secular transition led by popular will.
  
  As Iran faces its largest protests since 1979, activists argue the uprising marks an irreversible break with the Islamic Republic, driven by economic collapse, repression, and public exhaustion with clerical rule.
  
  January 20, 2026
- Is Lebanon the true home of this mystical wisdom?
  
  From Solomon’s Temple to modern Beirut, how Kabbalah, Phoenician heritage, and Lebanese spirituality intersect today.
  
  Tracing Kabbalah’s ancient lineage and Lebanon’s enduring role as a meeting point of Abrahamic spiritual traditions.
  
  December 26, 2025
- Quest for the real assassin’s creed
  
  Assassins, trained killers in the Middle East, executed high-profile political assassinations, spreading fear during the Crusades.
  
  The Assassins, a medieval sect, used targeted killings to challenge political powers in the Crusader era.
  
  November 28, 2025
- Lebanon’s hidden role in Freemasonry’s origins
  
  Lebanon's Tyre, renowned for its skilled craftsmen, provided materials and expertise for King Solomon's Temple, establishing a foundational link to Freemasonry's origins.
  
  Tyre's artisans and resources were pivotal in constructing Solomon's Temple, embedding Lebanon's legacy in Freemasonry's history.
  
  October 25, 2025
- Britain’s long road to recognising Palestine
  
  The UK’s formal recognition of Palestine in 2025 marks a symbolic but historically conflicted shift, reflecting a century of policy reversals and growing domestic pressure amid the ongoing Gaza crisis.
  
  The UK’s formal recognition of Palestine in 2025 marks a symbolic but historically conflicted shift, reflecting a century of policy reversals and growing domestic pressure amid the ongoing Gaza crisis.
  
  October 09, 2025
- How a secret agreement destabilised the Middle East
  
  The 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement, dividing the Middle East between Britain and France, set the stage for a century of regional conflict and instability.
  
  The 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement, dividing the Middle East between Britain and France, set the stage for a century of regional conflict and instability.
  
  September 19, 2025