TV presenter Sarah Khalifa sentenced to death in Egypt
Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa and 10 others receive death sentences following drug trafficking convictions in Egypt.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- TV host Sarah Khalifa sentenced to death by hanging in Egypt
- A total of 11 defendants convicted in major drug case
- Verdict confirmed after religious clearance from Grand Mufti
- Defense lawyer confirms plans to appeal the death sentence
Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 10 other individuals have been handed death sentences by hanging following their conviction on drug-related charges, according to reports from state-owned newspaper al-Ahram.
Authorities stated that the defendants operated as part of a criminal ring responsible for importing raw ingredients used to manufacture narcotics with the intent to sell them. Investigators also recovered illegal firearms and munitions from the group.
Khalifa, 39, gained recognition as the host of the television program Mission Impossible, which focused on crime-related issues. She has consistently denied all allegations brought against her throughout the legal proceedings.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Along with the death sentences, nine co-defendants were ordered to serve life imprisonment, while another seven individuals were acquitted of all charges. Khalifa's legal representative confirmed that an appeal against the death penalty will be filed.
"I had never seen any drugs until I was photographed with them inside the anti-narcotics authority offices."
Sarah Khalifa
The initial verdict was announced in the previous month, though it remained unconfirmed until the court secured a religious opinion from the grand mufti of Egypt, a mandatory legal protocol required in all capital punishment cases.
This case highlights Egypt's strict criminal justice framework, which requires formal religious consultation with the Grand Mufti before any death sentence can be finalized. The involvement of a recognizable media personality has added significant public scrutiny to the proceedings.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors presented evidence showing that authorities seized over 750 kilograms of narcotics and raw materials. Testimony from 20 witnesses and electronic evidence, including text conversations and video clips, were also submitted, alongside broader human rights data regarding capital punishment in Egypt.
Source: BBC World
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