Tehran: A striking new form of protest is emerging in Iran, where women have been seen lighting cigarettes from burning portraits of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The trend, which has spread rapidly on social media, highlights public anger over the ongoing economic crisis, soaring inflation, the plunging rial, and government repression.
Since late December 2025, protests across the country have grown into one of the biggest challenges to Khamenei’s rule. Demonstrators have taken to the streets, chanted slogans, damaged government property, and persisted despite internet and telecommunications blackouts.
Symbolic Act of Defiance
Burning the Supreme Leader’s portrait is considered a serious offense under Iranian law. Public smoking by women is also restricted under social and religious regulations. By using a cigarette to ignite the portraits, women are sending a deliberate and symbolic message of resistance, building on the momentum of the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement that began in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. That earlier protest saw women burning hijabs and cutting their hair; the current acts represent an even more direct challenge to authority.
Viral Protests Online
Videos circulating on platforms like Instagram, X, Telegram, and Reddit show women lighting Khamenei’s portraits with cigarettes, an act widely interpreted as a defiance of both political and religious authority. Despite strict government attempts to control dissent, these symbolic protests continue to spread online, attracting international attention.
Growing Public Anger
The protests reflect frustration over Iran’s economic collapse, including the plummeting currency and rising food prices. Demonstrators have also targeted portraits of senior leaders and statues linked to the ruling party. Analysts say the movement is rooted in the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests but has evolved through social media into a global digital campaign.
Government Response
Ayatollah Khamenei has labeled protesters as agents of foreign powers, while international figures, including former US President Donald Trump, have warned against violence toward demonstrators. Hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests have been reported so far.
Observers say the women-led symbolic acts represent a broader fight for personal freedom, resistance against mandatory hijab rules, and opposition to theocratic control, highlighting Iran’s deepening social and economic unrest.
