Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other individuals have been sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted of drug-related charges. The verdict, confirmed a month after its initial announcement, followed a legal requirement for the grand mufti of Egypt to provide a religious opinion in death penalty cases.

Khalifa, 39, who is best known for her crime-focused TV program "Mission Impossible," has denied all charges leveled against her. The prosecution alleged that the group operated as a criminal gang involved in importing ingredients for drug manufacturing with the intent to distribute. Authorities also reportedly seized illegal firearms and munitions belonging to the defendants.

During the trial, the court heard evidence that prosecutors had seized over 750 kilograms (1,653 pounds) of narcotics and precursor materials. Twenty witnesses provided statements, supplemented by electronic evidence including recorded conversations and video clips, according to the state-owned al-Ahram newspaper. Khalifa reportedly told the judge last September that she had never seen drugs until she was photographed with them at the anti-narcotics authority offices.

In addition to the 11 death sentences, nine other defendants were handed life imprisonment sentences, while seven individuals were acquitted. Khalifa's lawyer has stated that they plan to appeal the death sentence.

This case highlights Egypt's strict stance on drug trafficking. The legal process for death sentences, requiring the grand mufti's opinion, underscores the gravity with which such cases are treated within the Egyptian judicial system.

According to Amnesty International's 2025 report, Egypt recorded 492 death sentences in the preceding year, with 23 executions carried out. The report noted that death penalties were applied for crimes such as drug trafficking and rape, which do not constitute 'intentional killing' as stipulated by international law for the restriction of capital punishment.

The defendants were found guilty of drug trafficking and rape. The court's decision, after obtaining the necessary religious opinion, confirms the sentences for Khalifa and the other 10 individuals.

Further details on the specific roles of each defendant within the alleged criminal gang and the precise nature of the imported materials remain subject to ongoing legal processes, including the planned appeal by Khalifa's defense team.