TV Host Sarah Khalifa Sentenced to Death in Egypt's Drugs Crackdown

Sun Sep 06 2026 00:59:11 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Egypt’s harsh penalties surface as TV presenter Sarah Khalifa, 11 others, receive death sentences for drug trafficking. The case sparks human‑rights debate.

Egypt’s judiciary has handed down death sentences to television personality Sarah Khalifa and 11 co‑defendants on charges of drug importation and possession of illegal weapons. The verdict came after months of legal procedures, including a mandatory religious opinion from Egypt’s grand mufti. The ruling has been criticized by human‑rights groups, who argue that drug trafficking and rape are not punishable by death under international standards. The case highlights concerns about due process and the application of capital punishment in Egypt.

TV Host Sarah Khalifa Sentenced to Death in Egypt's Drugs Crackdown

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Egypt’s judiciary has handed down death sentences to television personality Sarah Khalifa, 39, and 11 other defendants for drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession. The verdict, announced last month and later confirmed after a religious opinion from the grand mufti, comes after authorities seized more than 750 kg of narcotics and raw materials used to manufacture drugs.

Khalifa, famous for her crime‑focused TV program “Mission Impossible”, denied the charges, stating she had never seen drugs. She was photographed with illicit substances inside an anti‑narcotics authority office, a key piece of evidence used against her.

The case sparked international criticism: a 2025 Amnesty International report noted 492 death sentences issued in Egypt that year, 23 of which were carried out, and warned that drug trafficking and rape do not fall under crimes that merit capital punishment under international law.

Key facts

• 12 people sentenced to death by hanging.

• Convicted of drug importation, manufacturing, and illegal firearms.

• Verdict confirmed after grand mufti’s opinion.

• Widespread international legal and human‑rights scrutiny.

The verdict can be appealed. Human‑rights advocates urge Egypt to uphold fair trial standards and reconsider the use of the death penalty for non‑intentional killing cases. For more details, read the full Amnesty International report.