TV presenter among 11 sentenced to death in Egypt drugs case

Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 others have been sentenced to death for drug trafficking and possession of illegal firearms. The verdict, which follows the seizure of 750kg of narcotics, remains subject to appeal.
Why it matters
The case highlights the intersection of media figures, criminal justice, and the application of the death penalty in Egypt, drawing international human rights scrutiny.
Image source, Sarah Khalifa Instagram account Image caption, Sarah Khalifa is best known for her TV programme Mission Impossible which dealt with crime issues.
Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other people have been sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted of drugs charges.
According to state-owned al-Akhram newspaper, they were part of a criminal gang which imported ingredients used to make drugs with the intent of selling them.
They also had illegal firearms and munitions.
Khalifa, 39, is best known for her TV programme Mission Impossible which dealt with crime issues. She has denied the charges.
The verdict - which can be appealed against - was first announced last month.
However, it was only confirmed a month later after the court obtained a religious opinion from the grand mufti of Egypt - a legal requirement in death sentence cases.
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