Egyptian TV Presenter Among 11 Sentenced to Death in Major Drug Case

An Egyptian television presenter and 11 others have been sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted of running a major drug trafficking ring.

Sarah Khalifa, age 39, is best known for hosting a popular TV programme called Mission Impossible, which focused on real-life crime issues. According to state media, prosecutors alleged she was part of a criminal gang that imported raw materials to manufacture narcotics, while also possessing illegal firearms and munitions.

During the trial, Khalifa firmly denied all charges. When asked by the judge about her alleged role, she told the court she had never seen any drugs until she was photographed with them inside the anti-narcotics authority offices. Her lawyer has confirmed that she will appeal the death sentence.

The court based its decision on the seizure of more than 750kg of narcotics and raw materials. Prosecutors also presented testimony from 20 witnesses, alongside electronic evidence that included private conversations and video clips.

The verdict was first announced last month but was only officially confirmed recently. Under Egyptian law, a death sentence cannot be finalized until the court obtains a mandatory religious opinion from the country’s grand mufti. Alongside the 12 death sentences, nine other defendants received life imprisonment, while seven were acquitted.

This high-profile case has drawn sharp attention from human rights groups. A recent Amnesty International report noted that Egypt handed down 492 death sentences last year, with 23 actually carried out. The group criticized the use of capital punishment for crimes like drug trafficking, arguing they do not meet the strict international legal standard of “intentional killing.”

For Khalifa, a familiar face on Egyptian screens, the fight for her life now moves from the television studio to the appeals court. The cameras are off, but the stakes have never been higher.