A court in Pakistan has sentenced Umar Hayat, 23, to death for the murder of 17-year-old TikTok and Instagram influencer Sana Yousaf. The killing last June reignited a debate about women's safety in the country.

Hassan Yousaf, the victim's father, hailed the verdict as “a lesson for all such criminals in society.” Speaking outside the Islamabad court, he said: “This verdict is not just for me as an individual; it is for the entire society. This is a lesson for all such criminals in society that if they commit such an act, they can get such a result.”

Police arrested Hayat in Faisalabad within 20 hours of the murder. Islamabad Inspector General Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi described it as a case of “repeated rejections.”

In a recorded statement in July, Hayat confessed to the crime, admitting to a one-sided obsession with Yousaf after online interactions. He had traveled to Islamabad in late May to wish her a happy birthday, but they could not meet. After she refused further contact, he grew suspicious and decided to confront her.

On June 2, Hayat rented a Toyota Fortuner and brought a 30-bore pistol to Yousaf's home. He forced his way inside, an argument ensued, and he shot her dead in front of her mother and aunt. Hayat later denied the sequence of events.

Experts say the murder reflects a broader culture of misogyny where women are punished for their independence. Nighat Dad, executive director of the Digital Rights Foundation, stated: “When young women assert boundaries or say no to romantic or sexual advances, it bruises the male ego, especially in a society that teaches men entitlement over women's bodies and choices. This entitlement, when left unchecked by law, culture, and platforms, turns deadly.”

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 346 women were killed in the name of “honor” in 2024, up from 324 in 2023.

Source: www.aljazeera.com