Egypt's Cairo Criminal Court has sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa, 39, and eleven co‑defendants to death by hanging for their role in a large‑scale drug‑manufacturing and trafficking network, according to the BBC and other outlets.
Background of the case
The court found that the group formed an organised criminal gang that produced and exported narcotics, a charge that carries the death penalty under Egyptian law.
"The court found that the defendants were part of an organised criminal gang that manufactured and trafficked narcotics," reported the BBC.Prosecutors alleged the operation spanned multiple provinces and involved substantial quantities of illegal substances.
Profile of the high‑profile defendant
Sarah Khalifa is best known as the host of the popular crime‑focused television programme "Mission Impossible," which highlighted criminal investigations and law‑enforcement successes. Her public visibility has made the verdict especially prominent, with The Guardian describing her as a well‑known media figure.
Other defendants and reported discrepancies
Among the other individuals sentenced were Duraid Abdul Latif Al‑Samarrai and Mohamed Jalifa, as cited by NewsCord. Some regional reports, such as Shafaq News, mentioned an Iraqi national and counted thirteen sentenced individuals, indicating a minor discrepancy in the exact tally. However, the majority of outlets, including the BBC, The Guardian, and Ahram Online, consistently reported twelve death sentences.
The court also acquitted seven co‑accused, a detail highlighted by Ahram Online, which noted that those defendants were found not guilty of the charges.
Legal context and implications
Egypt reinstated the death penalty for certain drug‑related offences in 2020, and courts have since handed down multiple capital sentences in high‑profile cases. Human‑rights groups have criticized the use of capital punishment for drug crimes, but no official comment from the Egyptian Ministry of Interior or the judiciary was recorded in the reports.
The death sentences are to be carried out by hanging, the method prescribed by Egyptian law for capital offences. Appeals are permitted under Egyptian criminal procedure, though the timeframe and likelihood of commutation remain uncertain.
Legal analysts note that the case underscores the government's intensified crackdown on narcotics networks and signals a willingness to apply the harshest penalties even to public figures. The sentencing of a prominent television personality is expected to serve as a deterrent, according to officials cited by Gulf News.
As the verdict takes effect, the defendants' legal teams are expected to file appeals. The outcome will likely be monitored closely both domestically and internationally, given the high‑profile nature of the case and the broader debate over Egypt's use of the death penalty for drug offences.
