By Admin 
A new trend of protest has emerged amid the ongoing bloody uprising in Iran, where Iranian women are seen burning photographs of the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and lighting cigarettes. The sight of Iranian women protesting in this way has become one of the most memorable pictures of anti-government protests.
The trend has become a symbol of open defiance in a country like Iran with strict social restrictions and tight controls on women’s rights amid protests that have rocked the Middle Eastern country for the past two weeks.
Iranian protesters are completely rejecting Islamic power
Iranian woman lights her cigarette with a burning photo of the ayatollah. This is braver than anything an American feminist has done in the 21st century. pic.twitter.com/EplGdzTkjN
— Global Index (@TheGlobal_Index) January 10, 2026
These days, women who smoke in Iran light their cigarettes like this.#Iran pic.twitter.com/Z9wHYQju3j
— Behnam Gholipour (@beehnam) January 10, 2026
This development in Iran has come at a time when recent protests against the theocratic rule led by 86-year-old Ali Khamenei are increasing despite government action. These protests, which started against inflation, economic distress and rising prices in the country, soon turned into a widespread movement against the Khamenei regime and corruption. Like before, this time the protesters are not just demanding reforms, but are seen completely rejecting the Islamic Republic.
Slogans of Khamenei murdabad are being raised in Iran
Since last month, December 28, 2025, young and old people have taken to the streets in many cities including the capital of Iran, Tehran, and slogans like ‘Down with Khamenei’ and ‘Pahlavi will return’ are echoing in the entire area. A section of protesters are also demanding the return of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last Shah, whose father was ousted from power during the 1979 revolution.
symbol of defiance in iran
Amidst these slogans, pictures of Iranian women burning the pictures of the Supreme Leader of Iran and lighting cigarettes have gone viral on social media platforms and are attracting the attention of the whole world. However, this kind of protest is not new. Such scenes were also seen during the widespread protests of 2022, which erupted after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. Amini was arrested by Iran’s morality police for allegedly dressing inappropriately.
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