Pakistan sentences Umar Hayat to death for murder of TikTok star Sana Yousaf
22-year-old shot 17-year-old influencer after repeated rejections.
A Pakistani court on Tuesday sentenced 22-year-old Umar Hayat to death for the murder of teenage TikTok star Sana Yousaf, who had repeatedly rejected his advances. The 17-year-old influencer was shot at her home in Islamabad in June 2025, drawing nationwide condemnation and reigniting debate over women's safety in the Muslim-majority country. The judge in a cramped Islamabad courtroom announced the death penalty along with a fine of US$7,200. Yousaf's father welcomed the verdict, stating it serves as a lesson against such crimes.
Sana Yousaf had amassed over 1 million followers across social media platforms, where she posted about food, fashion, and skincare. She also openly discussed relationship problems—a topic still considered taboo in Pakistan. Her murder sparked both outrage and victim-blaming comments online, with some suggesting she was responsible for her own death. The case highlights ongoing challenges for women's rights and safety in Pakistan, where honor killings and gender-based violence remain serious issues. Umar Hayat's death sentence marks a rare and strong legal response in such cases.
- Umar Hayat, 22, sentenced to death for murdering 17-year-old TikTok star Sana Yousaf.
- Yousaf had over 1 million followers and was killed for repeatedly rejecting Hayat's advances.
- Court also imposed a fine of US$7,200; victim's family calls verdict a lesson for society.
Why It Matters
Highlights ongoing struggle for women's safety in Pakistan and rare capital punishment for gender-based violence.