Egyptian television personality Sarah Khalifa has been sentenced to death by a Cairo court over her alleged involvement in a major drug trafficking network, and has since issued a public statement following the ruling.
The verdict
Khalifa, who has 2.5 million Instagram followers, was sentenced alongside 11 co-defendants, each also receiving a fine of 500,000 Egyptian pounds, roughly $9,800. The ruling followed an extensive investigation by Cairo's Criminal Court into an alleged organised criminal operation.
What Khalifa said
Footage circulating on social media showed Khalifa breaking down in tears as the verdict was delivered. She has since said, "I have been wronged," and made an emotional plea to the court, stating: "I have never smoked a cigarette in my life. I swear to Almighty God, with the strongest oath, that I have been wronged."
The charges and evidence
Prosecutors alleged Khalifa and her co-defendants formed an organised gang that imported raw chemical materials from abroad to manufacture synthetic narcotics for distribution and sale, alongside charges relating to unlicensed firearms. Investigators said members of the group held specific roles across different stages of production. A raid on a residential property used for manufacturing and storage led to the seizure of 750 kilograms of synthetic narcotics, along with other raw materials. The prosecution's case relied on 20 witness testimonies, along with phone records, photographs, and video evidence.
Of the 12 defendants sentenced to death, nine others received life sentences, and seven were acquitted.
Khalifa's background
Before her arrest, Khalifa was a well-known media figure in Egypt, running her own beauty clinic and co-hosting a popular entertainment show alongside musician Hamo Bika.
Context on capital punishment in Egypt
Egypt's use of the death penalty remains a point of ongoing concern among international human rights organisations. According to Amnesty International, Egyptian courts issued 492 death sentences in 2025, among the highest figures recorded globally, with 23 executions carried out that year. Legal representatives for Khalifa have not yet publicly outlined any plans to appeal the verdict.
