Pakistan Sentences Man to Death for Killing TikTok Star After Rejecting His Advances
A Pakistani court sentenced 23-year-old Umar Hayat to death for murdering TikTok star Sana Yousaf, 17, after she rejected his romantic advances in June 2024. Hayat broke into her Islamabad home and shot her following her repeated refusals t
A court in Islamabad, Pakistan has sentenced Umar Hayat, 23, to death for the murder of 17-year-old TikTok influencer Sana Yousaf in June 2024. Hayat had repeatedly pursued Yousaf but was rejected, leading him to break into her home and shoot her dead. During investigation, Hayat confessed to the killing, claiming he had become infatuated with Yousaf through online conversations. He said he had traveled to Islamabad days before the murder to wish her a happy birthday, but despite her refusal to meet him, he went to her home anyway, resulting in a violent confrontation that led to her death.
Sana Yousaf was a prominent online personality with over one million TikTok followers and 500,000 Instagram followers. She was popular for her entertaining videos featuring fashion trends, lip-sync performances, and hangouts with friends. Her father, Syed Yousaf Hassan, stated that the court's verdict serves as a lesson for such criminals in society. The court also ordered Hayat to pay 2.5 million Pakistani rupees (nearly 291,800 baht) in compensation to the victim's family.
Activists have noted that Yousaf's murder is part of a broader pattern of gender-based violence against women in Pakistan that affects many women across the country.