TV presenter among 11 sentenced to death in Egypt drugs case

What the report says

Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa is among 12 people sentenced to death by hanging in a drugs case, according to BBC World News reporting based on Egyptian state media. The court found the group guilty of drug-related offenses and said they were part of a criminal network that imported ingredients for making narcotics with the aim of selling them. Authorities also said illegal firearms and ammunition were involved.

Khalifa, 39, is known for hosting Mission Impossible, a programme focused on crime issues, and she has denied the allegations. The verdict was originally announced last month but was later formally confirmed after the court received a mandatory opinion from Egypt’s grand mufti, a step required in death penalty cases. BBC reported that the sentence can still be appealed.

During the trial, the court heard that more than 750kg of narcotics and raw materials had been seized, along with evidence including witness statements, electronic communications and video clips. State media also reported that Khalifa told the judge she had never seen drugs until she was photographed with them at anti-narcotics authority offices. The case highlights Egypt’s use of capital punishment in serious criminal cases; rights groups have frequently raised concerns about death sentences being imposed for offenses that do not involve intentional killing.