Egyptian television personality Sarah Khalifa and 11 co-defendants have been handed death sentences after being found guilty in a major narcotics case.
The defendants were convicted of belonging to a criminal network accused of bringing chemical substances into Egypt for the production and distribution of illegal drugs.
Prosecutors also alleged that the group possessed unlicensed weapons and ammunition.
Khalifa, 39, gained public recognition through Mission Impossible, a television programme focusing on crime-related matters.
She has consistently rejected the accusations against her.
Nine other defendants received life terms, while seven were cleared of the allegations.
Khalifa’s legal representative has announced plans to challenge the ruling through an appeal.
Although the court reached its decision last month, the death penalties could not be formally confirmed until Egypt’s Grand Mufti provided the required religious advisory opinion.
Court proceedings heard that security agencies had recovered more than 750kg of narcotics, alongside chemical materials allegedly intended for manufacturing further quantities of drugs.
State-owned Al-Ahram reported that prosecutors relied on testimony from 20 witnesses as well as digital material, including recorded conversations and video footage.
During a hearing in September last year, Khalifa reportedly told the judge that she had never encountered narcotics before being photographed alongside them at the offices of Egypt’s anti-narcotics agency.
Amnesty International reported in 2025 that Egyptian courts issued 492 death verdicts during the year, with 23 executions carried out.
The rights organisation said some of those condemned had been convicted of drug-related offences and rape, arguing that such crimes do not constitute intentional killing, which international law says should be the narrow basis for imposing capital punishment.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong