Egypt sentences TV presenter, 11 others to death in drugs case
An Egyptian court sentenced a well-known television presenter and 11 others to death for manufacturing and trafficking narcotics in a sprawling drugs case, official media reported on Saturday. The presenter, Sarah Khalifa, 39, is best known for her programme Mission Impossible, which dealt with issues concerning security and crime. The state-linked Al-Ahram newspaper said a Cairo court sentenced…
On Saturday, an Egyptian court sentenced renowned television presenter Sarah Khalifa, 39, and ten others to death for their alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking, according to official media reports. Khalifa, known for her program "Mission Impossible," which focused on security and crime matters, faces charges of forming an organized criminal gang involved in drug manufacturing, trafficking, and possessing firearms.
The verdict came after the court sought guidance from Egypt's Grand Mufti, a requirement under Egyptian law for capital cases. The decision is open to appeal. Khalifa also runs a plastic surgery clinic and a production company specializing in event organization. State-run Akhbar Al-Youm reported that authorities seized over 750kg of narcotics and raw materials, along with two flats used as drug labs, and unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
In addition to the death penalty, Khalifa and the others received a five-year prison term for another case involving kidnapping and assault of a young man. Egypt imposes the death penalty for premeditated murder, terrorism, certain rape offenses, and drug trafficking. The Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms noted that 541 death sentences were issued in Egypt in 2025.
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