An Egyptian court has sentenced Sarah Khalifa, a well-known television presenter, to death along with 11 other defendants in a major drug manufacturing and trafficking case. The verdict, reported by state-affiliated media on Saturday, marks a dramatic fall for the 39-year-old, who hosted the popular crime and security programme Mission Impossible.
The Cairo court convicted Khalifa and her co-defendants of forming an organised criminal group to procure substances used in drug production for trafficking, as well as possessing and transporting unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The ruling, which followed the mandatory consultation with Egypt's Grand Mufti, can be appealed.
Details of the case
According to the state-run newspaper Al-Ahram, law enforcement officers seized more than 750 kilograms of drugs and raw materials during raids, along with two apartments used as laboratories and numerous unlicensed firearms and rounds of ammunition. The state outlet Akhbar El-Yom reported that the defendants were accused of importing raw materials from abroad to manufacture synthetic drugs for trade.
Khalifa, who also owns a cosmetic clinic and an events company, was additionally sentenced to five years in prison in a separate case involving the abduction and assault of a young man. Some of the other defendants received similar sentences in that case.
Egyptian law mandates the death penalty for certain offences, including premeditated murder, terrorism, and drug trafficking. According to the Egyptian Rights and Freedoms Commission, 541 death sentences were handed down in the country in 2025 alone.
The case has drawn attention beyond Egypt's borders, as it highlights the country's harsh judicial approach to drug-related crimes. While the Egyptian legal system allows for appeals, human rights organisations have repeatedly criticised the use of mass trials and the lack of due process in such cases.
For European observers, the case underscores the broader challenges of judicial reform and human rights in the region. Egypt remains a key partner for the European Union on migration and security, yet concerns over its legal practices continue to strain relations. The EU has often called for respect for human rights in its dialogue with Cairo, but concrete progress has been limited.
Khalifa's case is likely to fuel further debate about the treatment of public figures and the severity of sentences in Egypt. Her legal team has not yet announced whether they will appeal, but the possibility remains under Egyptian law.
As the story develops, it joins a list of high-profile legal cases in the region that have drawn international scrutiny. For now, the fate of Sarah Khalifa and her co-defendants rests with the appeals process, which could take months or even years to conclude.
