The Sana Yousuf Case: A Sociological Inquiry Into Victim Blaming, Male Entitlement, And Gendered Morality In India
- IJLLR Journal
- Aug 8
- 2 min read
Kirti Soni & Amisha Singh, Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, GGSIPU
ABSTRACT
On June 2, 2025, the murder of 17-year-old TikTok influencer Sana Yousuf in Islamabad by a persistent admirer, Umar Hayat, captured not just headlines, but the deep-seated anxieties and attitudes around gender and violence in South Asia. Although legal proceedings continue, the case has become a powerful prism through which to examine how deeply embedded misogynistic norms, bolstered by popular culture, social media, and legal structures, often turn toward scrutinizing Sana’s choices rather than the perpetrator’s actions. This paper examines the event and its aftermath through the theoretical frameworks of victim blaming and male entitlement.
Introduction
Sana Yousuf was a vibrant and well-known presence online, celebrated for her videos on TikTok and Instagram that championed youth, cultural expression, and women’s empowerment. On June 2, 2025, she was shot inside her home in Islamabad by Umar Hayat, a 22-year-old whose repeated romantic advances she had made clear she did not reciprocate.
Islamabad Inspector General Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi summarized this shift in understanding: "First, it was a cellular rejection. Now, it was a physical mode of rejection."When the news broke, reactions across Pakistan and nearby regions were swift—but telling.
Many first assumed this was the result of an “honour killing,” perhaps by her family, a reflection of how deeply that narrative is embedded in public consciousness about outspoken girls. However, facts soon made it clear: Sana’s murder was about rejected entitlement, not family “honour.” Yet, instead of focusing blame on the perpetrator, many public comments and even news stories zeroed in on Sana herself: her visibility, lifestyle, and the mere fact of her independence.
As a powerful editorial observed, “She didn’t die because she filmed TikTok videos. She died because a man couldn’t stand that she said no.” This perfectly gets at the heart of the issue— the way society shifts attention from violence to the perceived behavior of its victims.
