Egyptian television presenter sentenced to death

A Cairo court has sentenced prominent Egyptian television presenter Sara Khalifa and 11 other people to death, according to Egyptian state media.

The defendants were convicted on charges related to producing and trafficking drugs. Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper reported that prosecutors accused them of obtaining materials from abroad for drug production and trafficking, forming an organized criminal group, possessing those materials, and holding unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Khalifa, 39, became known in Egypt as the presenter of “Mission Impossible,” a television program focused on security and crime-related issues.

The court sought the religious opinion of Egypt’s Grand Mufti before imposing the sentences. The report said this is a mandatory procedure under Egyptian law in cases where courts issue the death penalty.