Egyptian TV Presenter Sarah Khalifa, 11 Others Sentenced to Death Over Drug Charges

An Egyptian court has sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death by hanging after finding them guilty of drug trafficking and other related offences.

According to the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper, the defendants were members of a criminal gang accused of importing ingredients used in the production of narcotics for commercial distribution.

The group was also convicted of possessing illegal firearms and ammunition.

Khalifa, 39, who is known for hosting the television programme Mission Impossible, which focused on crime-related issues, has denied the allegations against her.

Her lawyer has said she will appeal the death sentence.

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Nine other defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment, while seven were acquitted.

The verdict was initially announced last month but was formally confirmed after the court obtained a religious opinion from Egypt’s Grand Mufti, a legal requirement before a death sentence can be carried out.

During the trial, prosecutors told the court that authorities had seized more than 750kg (1,653lbs) of narcotics, alongside raw materials allegedly imported for the manufacture of drugs.

Al-Ahram reported that 20 witnesses provided statements to prosecutors, while electronic evidence, including conversations and video clips, was also presented before the court.

According to the state-run Akhbar al-Yom newspaper, Khalifa was questioned by the judge about her alleged involvement during a court appearance last September.

She reportedly told the court that she had never seen drugs until she was photographed with them inside the offices of the anti-narcotics authority.

The case has also drawn attention to Egypt’s continued use of the death penalty.

According to Amnesty International’s 2025 report, Egyptian courts handed down 492 death sentences during the year, while 23 executions were carried out.

The rights organisation said some of those sentenced to death had been convicted of drug trafficking and rape.

The report described such cases as involving “crimes that did not amount to ‘intentional killing’ to which the use of the death penalty must be restricted under international law and standards”.