A court in Pakistan has sentenced a man to death over the murder of a teen social media influencer that sparked outrage across the country. Umar Hayat broke into the home of 17-year-old TikTok star Sana Yousaf in June last year after she rejected his repeated advances, ultimately shooting her dead.
Hayat, now 23, confessed to the crime, claiming he had developed an obsession with Yousaf after interacting with her online. The court’s verdict was described by Yousaf's father, Syed Yousaf Hassan, as a lesson for all such criminals in society and included an order for Hayat to pay 2.5 million rupees ($9,000; £6,700) as compensation to Yousaf's family.
In investigations, Hayat revealed he had traveled to Islamabad to wish Yousaf a happy birthday, and despite her refusal to meet him, he forced his way into her home where their argument escalated into violence.
Before her death, Yousaf was a popular TikTok personality with over a million followers, known for her light-hearted content including fashion trends and lip-syncing to songs.
The case has not only highlighted the issue of violence against women in Pakistan but has also ignited criticism towards Yousaf's work as an influencer, with some primarily male social media users suggesting her online presence contributed to her "sins." Activists argue that such backlash reflects a misogynistic and patriarchal mindset that endangers female content creators in Pakistan.
