A court in Pakistan has sentenced a man to death over the murder of a teen social media influencer, igniting widespread outrage across the nation.
Umar Hayat broke into the home of 17-year-old TikTok star Sana Yousaf in June last year after she rejected his repeated advances, resulting in her tragic death.
Hayat, now 23, admitted his crime in July, revealing that he had developed an obsession with Yousaf after their online interactions.
Yousaf's father, Syed Yousaf Hassan, proclaimed that the verdict served as a lesson for all such criminals in society.
The Islamabad court not only sentenced Hayat to death but also ordered him to pay 2.5 million rupees ($9,000; £6,700) as compensation to Yousaf's family.
Leading up to the murder, Hayat had traveled to Islamabad to wish Yousaf a happy birthday. Despite her refusal to meet him, he managed to confront her at her home, leading to an argument that escalated into violence.
Before her untimely death, Yousaf boasted over a million followers on TikTok and was well-loved for her entertaining content, which included fashion trends and lip-syncing.
Activists have noted that Yousaf's murder reflects a wider issue of violence against women in Pakistan. While many have expressed outrage over her death, some backlash has emerged targeting her role as a social media influencer.
Usama Khilji, director of the digital rights advocacy group Bolo Bhi, noted that a minority of male internet users criticized Yousaf's content and even suggested her family should remove her social media accounts. Human rights advocate Farzana Bari condemned this reaction as misogynistic and indicative of patriarchal attitudes.
The case has shed light on the pervasive threats faced by female content creators in Pakistan, reinforcing the necessity for societal reform and protection for women.
