Egypt: Cairo Criminal Investigations Refer the Papers of the "Sara Khalifa Gang" to the Mufti - Sarmad

The Cairo Criminal Court has referred the case files of the accused Sara Khalifa and several other defendants in the case widely known in the media as the “Sara Khalifa gang” to the Grand Mufti of the Republic to seek a religious ruling on their execution.

The decision came after the court heard the defendants’ statements and closing arguments in the case, which involves 27 defendants facing charges of forming an organized criminal group specializing in importing raw materials used for manufacturing narcotics from abroad, producing them domestically, and trafficking them.

During the trial session, one of the defendants stated that he had been working in Jordan for about ten years before his brother informed him of a better job opportunity. He explained that he believed the job involved only transporting dietary supplements from Dubai to Egypt, and that he made four trips for this purpose without knowledge—according to his statements—of any activity related to the manufacture or trafficking of narcotics.

The defendant added that he was surprised by his arrest, asserting that the amount of money in his possession at the time of his detention did not exceed 200 Egyptian pounds, and he denied any knowledge of the charges against him.

Referring the defendants’ case files to the Grand Mufti of the Republic is a legal procedure stipulated in Egyptian legislation in cases where the court considers imposing the death penalty. The Mufti’s religious opinion is sought before the final judgment is issued, while the final decision remains with the court panel. The Mufti’s opinion is advisory and non-binding.

The facts of the case stem from investigations conducted by law enforcement agencies, which led to charges against the defendants for forming an organized network to import materials used in drug manufacturing from abroad, before preparing and distributing them within the Egyptian market.

The case has drawn widespread attention since its disclosure, due to the scale of the allegations, the number of defendants, and the nature of the criminal activity attributed to them. The court is continuing its proceedings in preparation for issuing its verdict in a session scheduled for early September.