05-09-2026
Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other defendants have been sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted in a case involving drug trafficking and illegal weapons. According to Egypt’s state-owned al-Ahram newspaper, prosecutors said the group belonged to a criminal gang that imported raw materials used to manufacture narcotics, intending to sell the finished drugs. Authorities also accused the group of possessing illegal firearms and ammunition.
Khalifa, 39, is known for presenting the crime-focused television programme Mission Impossible. She has denied the charges. During a court hearing last September, she reportedly told the judge that she had never seen drugs before being photographed with them inside the offices of Egypt’s anti-narcotics authority.
The verdict was initially announced the previous month but could not be formally confirmed until Egypt’s grand mufti provided a religious opinion, a legal requirement in death-penalty cases. The ruling can still be appealed.
During the trial, authorities said they had seized more than 750kg of narcotics and the imported materials allegedly intended for drug production. Prosecutors also presented statements from 20 witnesses, as well as electronic evidence including conversations and video clips. State-run Akhbar al-Youm reported details of Khalifa’s response to the allegations.
The article places the case in the broader context of Egypt’s use of capital punishment. It cites a 2025 Amnesty International report recording 492 death sentences during the year, of which 23 were carried out. Amnesty criticized the use of the death penalty in cases involving drug trafficking and rape, saying these crimes do not constitute intentional killing, the category to which capital punishment should be restricted under international law and standards.
Entities: Sarah Khalifa, Egypt, Egyptian courts, al-Ahram, Akhbar al-Youm • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
05-09-2026
An Egyptian court has sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death in a major narcotics case, according to official media. The defendants were convicted of forming an organised criminal gang involved in procuring materials for the manufacture of narcotics, with the intention of trafficking them. They were also convicted of possessing and carrying unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Khalifa, 39, is a well-known television personality and is best known for hosting “Mission Impossible,” a programme focused on security and crime-related issues. In addition to her television work, she owns a plastic surgery clinic and a production company that organises parties and events.
The verdict was issued by a Cairo court after it consulted Egypt’s Grand Mufti, whose religious opinion is required under Egyptian law in capital cases. The death sentences are to be carried out by hanging if upheld, although the ruling remains subject to appeal.
The case involves alleged drug manufacturing and trafficking and has attracted attention because of Khalifa’s public profile. The report does not provide further details about the evidence, the alleged narcotics operation, the other defendants, or the date of any appeal proceedings. The information was reported by state-linked Al-Ahram and other official media, while the article attributes the court’s findings and sentence to those reports.
Entities: Egypt, Sarah Khalifa, Cairo court, Al-Ahram, Grand Mufti of Egypt • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
05-09-2026
An Egyptian court has sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death for allegedly manufacturing and trafficking narcotics as part of an organized criminal gang. The Cairo court’s ruling, reported by state-linked media, accused the defendants of importing materials from abroad to produce synthetic drugs for distribution. They were also convicted of possessing and carrying unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Khalifa, 39, is known for presenting Mission Impossible, a program focused on security and crime. She also owns a cosmetic surgery clinic and an event production company. Authorities reportedly seized more than 750 kilograms of narcotics and raw materials during the investigation, along with firearms and ammunition. Two apartments allegedly used as drug laboratories were also discovered.
Because the case involves capital punishment, the court consulted Egypt’s Grand Mufti for a religious opinion, as required under Egyptian law. The death sentences are subject to appeal. Khalifa and other defendants also received five-year prison sentences in a separate case involving the kidnapping and assault of a young man.
Egypt permits the death penalty for several offenses, including premeditated murder, terrorism, certain rape crimes and drug trafficking. The article places the ruling in the context of Egypt’s wider use of capital punishment, citing the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms, which reported that 541 death sentences were issued in the country during 2025. The report presents the allegations, court ruling and legal context without taking a position on the defendants’ guilt or the use of the death penalty.
Entities: Sarah Khalifa, Egypt, Cairo court, Mission Impossible, Al-Ahram • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
