A court in Pakistan has sentenced a man to death over the murder of a teen social media influencer that sparked uproar 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, and shot her dead.
Hayat, now 23, admitted his crime in July, saying he had developed a one-sided obsession with Yousaf after some interactions online. Yousaf's father Syed Yousaf Hassan said the verdict handed down by the Islamabad court was a lesson for all such criminals in society, local media reported.
The court also ordered Hayat to pay 2.5 million rupees ($9,000; £6,700) as compensation to Yousaf's family. During investigations, Hayat said he had travelled to Islamabad days before the killing to wish Yousaf well on her birthday. Despite Yousaf's refusal to meet him, he made his way to her home – where the two had an argument which escalated into the killing, according to Pakistani media.
Yousaf had more than a million followers on TikTok and half a million more on Instagram before her death. She was well-loved by fans for her light-hearted content, including that of her trying out fashion trends, lip-syncing to songs, and just hanging out with friends.
Activists said Yousaf's murder was part of a larger pattern of violence against women in Pakistan. While many have shared their outrage over Yousaf's death, there has also been backlash towards her work as an influencer. Critics from a small segment of the population have suggested that her online presence contributed to her demise.
Prominent human rights activist Farzana Bari characterized this backlash as misogynistic and highlighted the dangers female content creators face online in Pakistan.
Hayat, now 23, admitted his crime in July, saying he had developed a one-sided obsession with Yousaf after some interactions online. Yousaf's father Syed Yousaf Hassan said the verdict handed down by the Islamabad court was a lesson for all such criminals in society, local media reported.
The court also ordered Hayat to pay 2.5 million rupees ($9,000; £6,700) as compensation to Yousaf's family. During investigations, Hayat said he had travelled to Islamabad days before the killing to wish Yousaf well on her birthday. Despite Yousaf's refusal to meet him, he made his way to her home – where the two had an argument which escalated into the killing, according to Pakistani media.
Yousaf had more than a million followers on TikTok and half a million more on Instagram before her death. She was well-loved by fans for her light-hearted content, including that of her trying out fashion trends, lip-syncing to songs, and just hanging out with friends.
Activists said Yousaf's murder was part of a larger pattern of violence against women in Pakistan. While many have shared their outrage over Yousaf's death, there has also been backlash towards her work as an influencer. Critics from a small segment of the population have suggested that her online presence contributed to her demise.
Prominent human rights activist Farzana Bari characterized this backlash as misogynistic and highlighted the dangers female content creators face online in Pakistan.
