An Egyptian court has sentenced television personality Sarah Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death after finding them guilty of operating an organised criminal network involved in the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs.
The Cairo Criminal Court handed down the sentences on Saturday, September 5, following a trial involving 28 defendants. Nine other defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment, while seven were acquitted. The death sentences are, however, subject to appeal and are not yet final.
Prosecutors accused the group of importing raw materials used to manufacture synthetic narcotics in Egypt for distribution and sale. The defendants also faced charges relating to the possession of firearms and ammunition without the required licences.
Authorities reportedly seized more than 750 kilogrammes of narcotics and drug-manufacturing materials during investigations. Two apartments allegedly used as laboratories for producing the drugs were also identified, while weapons, manufacturing equipment and other items linked to the alleged offences were confiscated.
The prosecution relied on the testimony of 20 witnesses, alongside digital evidence including messages, photographs and videos. Chemical analyses and other forensic evidence were also presented before the court. Khalifa, 39, has consistently denied any involvement in the alleged drug operation. Her lawyer, Mohamed El Gendy, has announced plans to appeal the conviction, citing alleged procedural irregularities during the trial.
Before issuing the death sentences, the court referred the case to Egypt’s Grand Mufti, as required under the country’s legal procedure in capital cases. The Mufti’s opinion is advisory and does not legally bind the court.
Khalifa has often been described in international reports as a prominent Egyptian television presenter. However, Ahram Online recently disputed descriptions of her as a major national television personality, noting that although she had worked in television, her media profile before her arrest was relatively limited.
She was arrested in April 2025 and remained in custody while the case proceeded through the courts for more than a year. The trial attracted significant public attention in Egypt, particularly as details of the allegations and footage from the proceedings circulated widely online.
Khalifa is also facing a separate criminal case involving the alleged kidnapping and assault of a young man. That case is unrelated to the drug-trafficking convictions that resulted in the death sentences. The September 5 judgment represents the trial court’s conviction of Khalifa and the other defendants. However, the sentences remain subject to Egypt’s appeals process, which could result in a higher court reviewing the convictions or penalties.
