Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa, 39, has been sentenced to death by hanging along with 11 others for their involvement in a criminal gang that imported ingredients used to make drugs. The group was also found guilty of possessing illegal firearms and munitions. Khalifa's lawyer says she will appeal the verdict, which was confirmed after the court obtained a religious opinion from Egypt's grand mufti, a legal requirement for death sentences. A total of 9 defendants have been sentenced to life imprisonment and 7 have been acquitted.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 4974 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-06
- Published
Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other people have been sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted of drugs charges.
asserted
Khalifa → publish → charges
According to state-owned al-Ahram newspaper, they were part of a criminal gang which imported ingredients used to make drugs with the intent of selling them.
They also had illegal firearms and munitions.
uncertain
They → accord → firearms
Khalifa, 39, is best known for her TV programme Mission Impossible which dealt with crime issues.
asserted
which → deal → issues
She has denied the charges.
asserted
She → deny → charges
Nine fellow defendants have been sentenced to life imprisonment, while seven have been acquitted.
Khalifa's lawyer said she would appeal the death sentence.
The verdict was first announced last month.
asserted
verdict → sentence → sentence
However, it was only confirmed a month later after the court obtained a religious opinion from the grand mufti of Egypt - a legal requirement in death sentence cases.
asserted
court → confirm → cases
During the trial, the court heard that authorities had seized more than 750kg (1,653lbs) of narcotics and the imported raw materials to make them.
asserted
authorities → hear → them
Twenty witnesses had given statements to the prosecutors, al-Ahram said, in addition to electronic evidence that included conversations and video clips.
asserted
that → give → conversations
According to the state-run Akhbar al-Youm newspaper, when asked by the judge about her alleged role during a court appearance last September, Khalifa said she had never seen any drugs until she was photographed with them inside the anti-narcotics authority offices.
uncertain
she → accord → offices
According to a 2025 Amnesty International report, there were 492 death sentences in the course of the year, 23 of which were carried out., external.
uncertain
carried → accord → which
The defendants were found guilty of drug trafficking and rape, "crimes that did not amount to 'intentional killing' to which the use of the death penalty must be restricted under international law and standards", the report said.
asserted
report → find → law
