Egyptian TV Presenter Sarah Khalifa Sentenced to Death for Drug Trafficking

A Cairo criminal court has sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death by hanging. The court found the group guilty of forming a criminal organization specializing in the importation of substances used to manufacture drugs for sale. Khalifa is known for hosting a program focused on security and crime on the private channel Al-Mehwar. She is also a business owner with an events production company and a cosmetic surgery clinic.

According to reports, the case involved the seizure of over 700 kilograms of synthetic cannabinoids, specifically MDMB-4en-PINACA. While the defense challenged the legal classification of the substance, the court accepted a technical committee's finding that it fell under Egyptian narcotics legislation. In addition to the death sentences, nine of the 28 total defendants received life imprisonment, while seven were acquitted. The 12 individuals sentenced to death, including Khalifa's brother, Mohamed, were also ordered to pay a fine of 500,000 Egyptian pounds.

Before the final verdict, the court followed Egyptian law by referring the case to the Grand Mufti, the country's highest religious and legal authority, for a non-binding consultative opinion. Khalifa's lawyer, Mohamed El Gendy, has stated that the defense will appeal the ruling and pursue all available legal avenues, including a potential review by the Court of Cassation.

Reporting on the event differed slightly in framing. A center-leaning source focused on the legal sentencing and the nature of the criminal organization. A center-right source highlighted the controversy surrounding the verdict, noting a lack of public evidence for the alleged crimes.