Cairo court sentences TV presenter and 11 others to death for drug trafficking

An Egyptian court has sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 others to death for making and selling illegal drugs. The verdict came in September 2026. Khalifa, 39, hosted a popular programme called Mission Impossible and has over three million Instagram followers. She was arrested in April 2025. The group was accused of running a criminal operation to produce synthetic drugs from imported materials. Police found more than 750 kilograms of drugs and related materials at a property used for production. The court also gave Khalifa and the others five years in prison for kidnapping and assault. Under Egyptian law, death sentences must go to the Grand Mufti for a religious opinion first. Khalifa has said she is innocent.