DST News: Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 others have been sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted on drug-related charges.

According to the state-owned Al-Ahram, the defendants were members of a criminal gang accused of importing raw materials used to manufacture illegal drugs for sale. Authorities also found illegal firearms and ammunition in their possession.

Khalifa, 39, is best known for hosting the television programme Mission Impossible, which focused on crime-related issues. She has denied the allegations against her. Her lawyer said she would appeal the death sentence.

Nine other defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment, while seven were acquitted.

The verdict was initially announced last month but was formally confirmed a month later after the court obtained an opinion from Egypt’s Grand Mufti, a legal requirement in death-penalty cases.

During the trial, prosecutors said authorities had seized more than 750kg (1,653lb) of narcotics, along with raw materials allegedly intended for drug production. Al-Ahram reported that 20 witnesses testified before prosecutors, while electronic evidence included recorded conversations and video clips.

According to the state-run Akhbar Al-Youm, Khalifa told the judge during a court hearing last September that she had never seen drugs before being photographed with them inside the offices of the anti-narcotics authority. She denied any involvement in the alleged crimes.

An Amnesty International report published in 2026 said that 492 death sentences were handed down during 2025, of which 23 were carried out. The organisation also noted that the defendants in the case were convicted of drug trafficking and rape—offences that, according to international law and standards, do not constitute “intentional killing,” for which the death penalty should be restricted.