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Egyptian TV Presenter Sentenced to Death for Drug Crime
Confirmed
In Short: A Cairo court has sentenced Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 others to death for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
Sarah Khalifa, a well-known Egyptian television presenter, has been sentenced to death along with 11 others for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking, according to state media reports. Khalifa, best known for her TV programme "Mission Impossible," which focuses on security and crime-related issues, was convicted of forming an organised criminal gang that imported materials used in the production of narcotics for distribution.
The court's decision to sentence Khalifa and the others to death by hanging was made after a thorough investigation into the alleged manufacture and distribution of synthetic drugs. The case reportedly followed a major investigation into the alleged manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs, which led to the discovery of two apartments allegedly being used as laboratories for drug production, along with unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Khalifa's lawyer stated that she would appeal the death sentence, but the court's decision was only confirmed a month later after obtaining a religious opinion from the grand mufti of Egypt, a legal requirement in death sentence cases. According to reports, the defendants were also found guilty of possessing and carrying unlicensed firearms and ammunition, in addition to the drug trafficking charges.
During a court appearance last September, Khalifa denied her involvement, stating that she had never seen any drugs until she was photographed with them inside the anti-narcotics authority offices. However, the court found her guilty of her alleged wide-ranging role in the manufacturing and distribution of illegal drugs.
The case highlights the severity of drug-related offenses in Egypt, where 492 death sentences were issued by Egyptian courts in 2025, according to Amnesty International. The Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms reported that 541 death sentences were issued in the same year, indicating a concerning trend in the use of the death penalty for drug-related crimes.
The court also sentenced Khalifa and some of the other defendants to five years in prison in a separate case involving the alleged kidnapping and assault of a young man. Khalifa shouted "I'm innocent" when she was sentenced, but the court's decision stands, pending any appeals.
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- The 39-year-old is the host of the Mission Impossible TV program, dedicated to security and crime issues.
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