Egyptian TV presenter sentenced to death on drug charges

Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa, 39, has been sentenced to death by hanging on drug charges by a Cairo Criminal Court. The verdict, which also condemned 11 other defendants, was formally confirmed on Saturday, September 5 or 6, 2026, following the Grand Mufti's required religious opinion. Khalifa, known for hosting the crime program "Mission Impossible," denies the accusations.

The court found Khalifa and her co-defendants guilty of forming an organized criminal gang responsible for importing raw materials to manufacture and traffic synthetic narcotics, as well as possessing unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The prosecution presented evidence including witness testimonies, digital communications, photographs, and videos, alongside the seizure of over 750 kilograms of drugs and raw materials from two apartments allegedly used as laboratories. Nine other defendants in the broader case received life sentences, while seven were acquitted. Khalifa also faces a separate five-year prison sentence for a kidnapping and assault charge.

The sentence can be appealed to Egypt's Court of Cassation. This case highlights human rights concerns, as Egypt is among countries that apply the death penalty for drug trafficking. International bodies, such as the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, have previously stated that the death penalty for non-violent drug offenses fails to meet proportionality principles under international human rights law.