Iranian women light cigarettes with burning photo of their country’s supreme leader

[Augusta]

Iranian women light cigarettes with burning photo of their country’s supreme leader



Iranian women have launched a striking new form of protest, lighting cigarettes with burning images of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a bold act of defiance that has spread rapidly online.



Videos and photographs of the protests have been shared thousands of times across social media platforms, showing women without headscarves smoking cigarettes ignited by portraits of the country’s most powerful figure. Burning images of the supreme leader is a serious criminal offence under Iranian law, while women smoking in public has long been restricted or discouraged.

 

[gwolf666]

The act of Iranian women lighting cigarettes with burning photos of the Supreme Leader is a protest laden with symbolism. Personally, I believe this gesture goes far beyond the action itself: it represents a direct challenge to the social and political norms that have restricted women's freedom for decades. What's interesting is that the protest combines two forbidden elements—burning the image of a figure of power and smoking in public without a veil—which amplifies its impact and transforms each video into a message of resistance. For me, the most relevant aspect is how these images go viral on social media, generating an international echo that brings visibility to the struggle of Iranian women. Ultimately, these kinds of acts, though risky, demonstrate the courage of those seeking to break with repression and reclaim a space of autonomy and dignity.

 

[eLdavis]

Lol that's a huge sign of disrespect to the leader and even to the nation as a whole. The woman was really bold to do this.

 

[Augusta]

Those women are so bold enough that they don't fear with there would do to them.