Sarah Khalifa Receives Death Sentence for Drug Crimes

On Saturday, the Cairo Criminal Court sentenced Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa to death by hanging, along with 11 co-defendants, for allegedly running an organized drug manufacturing ring. The court's decision followed a review by Egypt’s Grand Mufti.

Each convicted individual was fined 500,000 Egyptian pounds, while nine co-defendants received life sentences, and seven others were acquitted. Khalifa, 39, known for her crime and security show and a following of 2.5 million on Instagram, was accused of importing raw chemical ingredients to produce synthetic narcotics.

Authorities seized over 750 kilograms of narcotics and unlicensed firearms from residential properties used as illegal laboratories. Khalifa maintained her innocence, claiming she had never used drugs and was falsely implicated.

The prosecution presented statements from 20 witnesses and digital evidence, while Khalifa's defense argued she was coerced into posing with the seized substances. The ruling raises concerns about the application of capital punishment for drug offenses in Egypt, where human rights groups criticize the frequent use of the death penalty.