Cairo, Sep 06 (V7N)- An Egyptian court has sentenced 12 people, including television presenter Sara Khalifa, to death by hanging in a major drug trafficking case involving an organized criminal gang.

According to state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram, the defendants were convicted of drug trafficking and involvement in an organized criminal group accused of importing raw materials from abroad to manufacture and sell drugs.

The indictment also alleged that members of the gang possessed illegal firearms and ammunition.

Khalifa, 39, became known in Egypt as the host of the crime television program Mission Impossible. She has denied all charges against her. Her lawyer said an appeal against the death sentence would be filed.

Nine other defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment, while seven people were acquitted in the case.

The verdict was initially announced last month. However, under Egyptian law, death sentences require an opinion from the country's Grand Mufti before they can be formally confirmed. The court subsequently confirmed the sentences following that process.

More than 750 kg of drugs seized

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that authorities had seized more than 750 kilograms of drugs along with imported materials allegedly intended for drug production.

Al-Ahram reported that 20 witnesses testified for the prosecution. Electronic evidence, including conversations and video footage, was also presented to the court.

When Khalifa appeared before the court in September last year, the judge questioned her about the allegations and her alleged involvement in the criminal operation.

Khalifa reportedly told the court that she had never seen drugs in her life until she was photographed with drugs at the office of Egypt's anti-narcotics authorities.

Debate over death penalty

The case has renewed attention on Egypt's use of the death penalty, which has long drawn criticism from international human rights organizations.

According to Amnesty International's 2025 report, Egyptian courts handed down 492 death sentences that year, while 23 executions were carried out.

Amnesty has argued that under international law and human rights standards, the death penalty should be restricted to the most serious crimes, generally understood to mean intentional killing.

The defendants in the present case were convicted of offenses including drug trafficking and rape, according to the report.

END/SMA/AJ