Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa has been sentenced to death alongside 11 other defendants after a court convicted them of drug trafficking and related offences, according to state-owned Al-Ahram.
Khalifa, 39, was accused of belonging to a criminal organisation allegedly involved in importing raw materials used to manufacture narcotics for distribution. Prosecutors also accused members of the group of possessing firearms and ammunition illegally.
The presenter, who is known for hosting the crime programme Mission Impossible, has consistently denied the allegations. Her lawyer has said the defence intends to appeal the death sentence.
Nine other defendants in the case were handed life imprisonment sentences, while seven people were acquitted.
The death sentences, which were first issued last month, required confirmation following a religious opinion from Egypt’s Grand Mufti, as provided for in Egyptian law in capital punishment cases.
According to Al-Ahram, authorities seized more than 750 kilogrammes of narcotics and materials allegedly intended for drug production during investigations into the case.
Prosecutors reportedly relied on testimony from 20 witnesses as well as electronic evidence, including recorded conversations and video footage.
During a court hearing last September, Khalifa rejected claims that she was involved in the drug operation. She reportedly told the court that the only time she had seen the seized substances was when she was photographed with them at the offices of Egypt’s anti-narcotics authority.
The case has renewed attention on Egypt’s use of capital punishment.
Amnesty International recorded 492 death sentences in Egypt in 2025 and reported that 23 executions were carried out during the same year.
The organisation has criticised Egypt’s use of the death penalty for offences such as drug trafficking, arguing that such crimes do not fall within the category of “most serious crimes” for which capital punishment may be permitted under international law.
