Arabic version: صدور حكم بالإعدام في قضية قتل نجمة تيك توك في باكستان

A court in Pakistan has sentenced Umar Hayat to death for the murder of 17-year-old TikTok influencer Sana Yousaf, a case that has ignited widespread outrage across the nation. Hayat broke into Yousaf’s home in June last year after she rejected his advances, ultimately leading to her death by gunfire.

According to BBC News, Hayat, now 23, confessed to the crime in July, stating that he had developed a one-sided obsession with Yousaf following interactions on social media. After being sentenced, the Islamabad court ordered Hayat to pay 2.5 million rupees ($9,000; £6,700) as compensation to Yousaf’s family.

Yousaf was a popular figure on TikTok, boasting over a million followers, and was known for her engaging content, which included fashion trends and social interactions. Her father, Syed Yousaf Hassan, expressed that the verdict serves as a crucial lesson for other criminals in society.

The murder has been highlighted by activists as part of a broader issue of violence against women in Pakistan. While many have expressed their anger over Yousaf’s death, there has been backlash towards her role as an influencer, with some critics citing religious reasons for their disapproval of her content.

Human rights advocates have criticized this backlash as misogynistic and patriarchal, emphasizing that social media can be a perilous environment for female content creators in Pakistan. Farzana Bari, a prominent activist, noted that the online discourse surrounding Yousaf’s death reflects the ongoing challenges faced by women in the digital sphere.