Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa has been sentenced to death by hanging alongside 11 other defendants after a Cairo court found them guilty in a major narcotics case involving the alleged manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs.
Khalifa, 39, is known for presenting Mission Impossible, a television programme focused on security and crime-related issues. Her conviction has attracted considerable attention because of her public profile and the nature of the charges. She also owns a cosmetic surgery clinic and an events production company.
According to state-linked Egyptian media, prosecutors accused Khalifa and the other defendants of forming an organised criminal group that obtained materials from abroad for the manufacture of narcotics intended for distribution. The case also involved allegations of possessing unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Authorities said more than 750 kilograms of narcotics and raw materials were seized during the investigation. Investigators also discovered two apartments that were allegedly being used as laboratories for producing drugs. Prosecutors presented witness statements and electronic evidence as part of the case.
Khalifa has denied the allegations and maintained that she was innocent. During the proceedings, she reportedly rejected claims that she had been involved in drug production or trafficking. Her defence has challenged the accusations, while the wider verdict remains subject to appeal.
The death sentences followed consultation with Egypt's Grand Mufti, a required step in capital cases under Egyptian law. The Mufti's opinion is advisory, meaning the final judicial decision rests with the court. The defendants can challenge the ruling through the country's appeal process.
The case involved 28 defendants in total. While 12, including Khalifa, received death sentences, nine others were handed life imprisonment and seven were acquitted, according to reports on the court's ruling. The differing outcomes reflect the court's assessment of the evidence and the alleged roles of the individual defendants.
Khalifa was also sentenced in a separate case connected to the alleged detention and assault of a young man. Reports differ on the precise sentence described in that separate proceeding, with some outlets reporting five years and others reporting three years, so that aspect should be treated cautiously until the court record is available.
Egypt maintains the death penalty for several serious offences, including drug trafficking, terrorism and premeditated murder. The ruling places Khalifa at the centre of one of the country's most closely watched recent drug prosecutions, but the case is not necessarily at its final legal stage because an appeal remains possible.