Egyptian TV host Sarah Khalifa and eleven other defendants were sentenced to death by hanging on Saturday for manufacturing and trafficking drugs. The ruling closes one of Egypt's most-followed criminal trials.
The Cairo Criminal Court, which holds sessions at Fifth Settlement district, ruled that the defendants established a criminal gang that supplied the raw material for the manufacture of the synthetic drugs and distributed them. In addition, they were convicted of possessing and carrying guns and ammunition illegally, according to the state-run daily Al Ahram.
Initially, the case had twenty-eight defendants, which the local press called the 'Grand Drug Case'. Gulf News reported that nine defendants received life sentences, while seven were acquitted.
Sarah Khalifa, 39, gained fame as a presenter of "Mission Impossible", a program focused on crime and security. In addition, she owns a plastic surgery clinic and an events organization firm, according to Arab News.
It was stated in the prosecution's statement that the group divided their tasks, where some of them smuggled chemicals from abroad, others manufactured the drugs, while others distributed them, according to Akhbar Al Youm.
Over 750 kilograms (1,650 pounds) of drugs and chemicals used to manufacture them were discovered, in addition to two apartments that were used as drug manufacturing facilities. Unlicensed weapons and ammunition were discovered, according to Al Ahram.
Before pronouncing the ruling, the trial's death penalty cases were sent to the Grand Mufti of Egypt to obtain his religious opinion, Egypt Independent said. Although it is not mandatory in the process of pronouncing the death penalty sentence in Egypt, the Mufti's opinion is only advisory.
Khalifa was detained in April 2025 on suspicion of manufacturing and trafficking drugs. Authorities froze her and other co-defendants' assets. Sarah Khalifa has more than three million followers on Instagram, The New Arab said.
In another case, the same Cairo Criminal Court sentenced Sarah Khalifa and the co-defendants to five years' imprisonment for kidnapping and beating up a young man.
The verdicts could be appealed.
In Egypt, the death penalty is applicable for premeditated murder, terrorism, some cases of rape, and drug trafficking. In 2025, Egyptian courts issued 541 death sentences, according to the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms.
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