Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa among 12 sentenced to death in drugs case
An Egyptian court has sentenced 12 individuals, including television presenter Sarah Khalifa, to death on drug trafficking charges and possession of illegal firearms. The verdict, confirmed after a religious opinion, is subject to appeal, with Khalifa denying the accusations.
Why it matters
This case highlights the severity of drug-related penalties in Egypt and raises international human rights concerns regarding the death penalty, especially given the involvement of a public figure and the nature of the alleged crimes.
An Egyptian court has sentenced 12 people, including television presenter Sarah Khalifa, to death after convicting them on drug charges.They were part of a “criminal gang” that imported ingredients used to manufacture drugs for sale. They were also found in possession of illegal firearms and ammunition, BBC reported citing state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper.Although the verdict was announced last month, it was only confirmed now after the court obtained a religious opinion from Egypt's grand mufti, fulfilling a legal requirement in death cases.The verdict is subject to appeal.The trialDuring the trial, the court heard that authorities had seized more than 750kg (1,653lbs) of narcotics, along with raw materials imported to manufacture them.Twenty witnesses gave statements to prosecutors, while electronic evidence included conversations and video clips.The defendants…
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