[Today’s Prayer] ‘Rejected romantic advances’ Teen influencer shot and killed… Man in his 20s sentenced to death in Pakistan

In the Islamic nation of Pakistan, a man in his 20s who shot and killed a teenage female influencer after she repeatedly rejected his advances has been sentenced to death.

According to AFP and other news agencies on the 20th (local time), the Islamabad Court in Pakistan sentenced Umar Hayat (22), who was indicted on murder charges, to death along with a fine of 7,200 dollars (about 10 million won) on the afternoon of the previous day.

Hayat was indicted on charges of murdering Sana Yousaf (17 at the time of death), an influencer, in the capital city of Islamabad in June last year. Investigation revealed that Hayat made advances to Yousaf, but when she repeatedly rejected him, he went to her house and shot her. Yousaf, known to be a medical student, was an influencer with 800,000 followers who mainly posted food and fashion-related videos on the social media platform TikTok. She also posted content on social media related to dating and women's rights, topics that are still considered taboo in Pakistan.

After the news of Yousaf's murder spread last year, numerous memorial comments were left on a social media video of her blowing out candles on a cake for her 17th birthday just a few days before her death. Additionally, women's rights activists, including her friends, held protests in Islamabad demanding severe punishment for the perpetrator. However, some netizens criticized the victim, saying, "She tarnished the honor of Islam, so it is a natural punishment."

It was reported that Hayat initially confessed to the murder but later reversed his statement. After the sentencing hearing, the victim's father told reporters outside the courtroom, "This ruling will serve as a lesson to all those who commit crimes like the defendant," adding, "This is an incident that must never be repeated."

Pakistan is extremely conservative and dominated by a patriarchal culture, so incidents of assaulting or murdering women occur frequently.

(Remainder omitted)

Source: Nate News

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

We hear the news that in the Islamic nation of Pakistan, a man in his 20s who shot and killed a teenage female influencer after she repeatedly rejected his advances has been sentenced to death.

God, please have mercy on the bereaved family who is suffering from the grief of losing their child in an instant, and at the same time, receiving secondary harm from people who criticize the victim, saying it is a natural punishment because she tarnished the honor of Islam. Please comfort them with Your warm touch.

May the sins of looking down on women, deceived by the falsehood of Islamic honor, be broken in Pakistan, and may they all repent before the Lord who is patient and still waiting now.

May the women of Pakistan meet the God who called men and women with the same spiritual gifts in the Holy Spirit, realize the falsehood of Islam, and seek Jesus who is the only truth.

To this end, may the global church move faster toward the eternal gospel of Christ than the heartbreaking event of a Pakistani soul losing their life, and may they serve to the end so that women in every household in Pakistan can live with hope in God's love.

May the local churches in Pakistan, which are enduring all kinds of persecution and tribulation in an Islamic country, also rely on the Lord who delivers from death, and boldly preach the gospel of life to Pakistan and the nations through the testing of their faith.

Thereby, following the promise of the Lord who will return soon, may the Pakistani nation become a holy bride, renewed to overcome even death and follow the Lord!