Egyptian television host Sarah Khalifa has been sentenced to death by the Cairo Criminal Court after being convicted of belonging to a criminal organization that imported chemical supplies used to manufacture and traffic synthetic drugs. Local media have noted the irony that Khalifa gained widespread notoriety only after her television career had already ended, thanks to the case against her.
The most striking moment of the trial came inside the courtroom, when Khalifa, standing in the metal enclosure reserved for defendants in Egyptian courts, heard the verdict read aloud. She immediately protested her innocence and begged for leniency, citing serious health problems.
“I have proven with medical reports that I have tumors, that I have cancer, and I ask for mercy and humanity. I swear by Almighty God that I am innocent — why are they going to judge me? For my loyalty to the people? I don’t even smoke cigarettes!” she said, according to Egyptian news outlets and a video that quickly spread across social media.
The case has drawn significant attention in Egypt, where Khalifa’s rise from television screens to a high-profile narcotics trial has become a major talking point. It remains unclear whether she plans to appeal the sentence.
To read the full original report and see additional details, visit eltiempo.com.
Source: Así fue el momento en que la reconocida presentadora egipcia, Sarah Khalifa, conoció su condena a muerte (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Muhammad غفّاري, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).