Egypt: Egypt TV Presenter, 11 Others Sentenced to Death in Drugs Case

What the report says

Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other people have been sentenced to death by hanging after a court convicted them of drug trafficking and related charges, according to Leadership in a report distributed by AllAfrica. The case, heard in Egypt and reported on 6 September 2026, also involved allegations of importing materials used to manufacture narcotics and possessing illegal firearms and ammunition.

The report says Khalifa, 39, is best known for hosting a crime-focused television program. She has denied the accusations, and her lawyer said she plans to appeal. Nine other defendants received life imprisonment, while seven were acquitted. The verdict had been announced earlier but was only formally confirmed after the court obtained the required opinion from Egypt’s Grand Mufti, which is part of the country’s death-sentence procedure.

According to the article, prosecutors presented witness testimony and electronic evidence, and authorities said they had seized more than 750 kilogrammes of narcotics and related raw materials. The case has also drawn wider attention because of Egypt’s use of capital punishment. For context, rights groups such as Amnesty International have long criticized the application of the death penalty in drug cases, though those broader concerns were cited in the report as background rather than as part of the court’s ruling.