TV presenter among 12 sentenced to death in Egypt drugs case

Egyptian television host Sarah Khalifa is among 12 individuals who have been sentenced to death by hanging after being found guilty of drug-related offenses. The charges against them stem from allegations that the group imported materials used to manufacture drugs with the intention of selling them, along with possessing illegal firearms and munitions. Khalifa, 39, is renowned for her television program "Mission Impossible," which focused on crime-related topics. She maintains her innocence in the accusations.

Out of the 12 defendants, nine received life sentences, while the remaining three were acquitted. Khalifa's legal counsel plans to challenge the death penalty. The final verdict was only officially confirmed a month after it was initially announced last month, following the court's acquisition of a religious interpretation from Egypt's Grand Mufti—a mandatory requirement in such cases.

During the trial, authorities presented evidence indicating the seizure of over 750 kilograms of narcotics and the raw materials utilized in their production. Twenty witnesses testified during the proceedings, alongside electronic evidence comprising conversations and video recordings. According to the state-run newspaper Akhbar al-Youm, when questioned about her alleged involvement by a judge during a court appearance in September, Khalifa claimed she had never encountered any drugs until she was photographed with them at the anti-narcotics authority offices.

An Amnesty International report from 2025 revealed that 492 death sentences were handed down that year, of which 23 were executed. The defendants were convicted of drug trafficking and rape, crimes deemed by the report to fall outside the scope of "intentional killing" for which the death penalty should be restricted according to international law and standards.