Egyptian TV Presenter Sarah Khalifa Sentenced to Death in Major Drug Case

Egyptian television presenter and lifestyle influencer Sarah Khalifa has been sentenced to death along with 11 other people in a major drug trafficking case that has drawn widespread attention in Egypt.

Khalifa, 39, was convicted of being part of a criminal network accused of importing materials used to manufacture synthetic drugs for trafficking. The defendants were also accused of possessing firearms without licenses, according to Egypt’s state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper, as reported by CNN.

The court sentenced all 12 defendants to death by hanging and ordered each of them to pay a fine of 500,000 Egyptian pounds, roughly $9,800.

Nine other people linked to the case were sentenced to life in prison, while seven defendants were acquitted.

Khalifa denies the charges

Khalifa has denied the allegations against her. Her lawyer told the BBC that she plans to appeal the death sentence.

Video from the sentencing, which took place last month, has spread widely on social media. In the footage, Khalifa can be seen crying in court and pleading for “mercy and humanity.”

The case was built on evidence that included statements from 20 witnesses, as well as video and audio recordings and photographs, according to Al-Ahram.

Prosecutors allege that the group was involved in an international operation that brought in materials needed to produce synthetic drugs. Authorities said they seized about 750 kilograms of synthetic narcotics and other raw materials from a residential property where the group allegedly stored and manufactured drugs.

Khalifa was arrested in April 2025 as part of the investigation.

From television to the courtroom

Khalifa is known in Egypt for her television program Mission Impossible, which focused on crime-related stories. She has also built a large online following, with more than 2.9 million followers on Instagram.

Her death sentence has attracted particular attention because of her public profile and the emotional footage from the courtroom.

Egypt's use of the death penalty

The case comes as Egypt continues to use the death penalty for serious crimes, including drug trafficking, terrorism and premeditated murder.

According to Amnesty International, Egyptian courts issued 492 death sentences in 2025, up from 365 the previous year. Twenty-three executions were carried out during 2025.

Khalifa's case is not yet final. Her planned appeal could challenge the conviction and sentence, meaning the death sentence does not necessarily mean an immediate execution.