Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other individuals have been sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted of drug charges. According to the state-owned al-Akhram newspaper, they were part of a criminal gang that imported ingredients used to make drugs with the intent of selling them. The group also reportedly possessed illegal firearms and munitions.
Ms Khalifa, 39, is known for her TV programme "Mission Impossible," which focused on crime issues. She has denied the charges. The verdict, which can be appealed, was initially announced last month but was confirmed after the court obtained a religious opinion from the grand mufti of Egypt, a legal requirement in death sentence cases.
During the trial, the court heard that authorities had seized over 750kg of narcotics and raw materials for their production. Twenty witnesses provided statements to prosecutors, alongside electronic evidence including conversations and video clips. According to the state-run Akhbar al-Youm newspaper, Ms Khalifa stated in court last September that she had never seen any drugs until she was photographed with them at anti-narcotics authority offices.