In a powerful and symbolic act of defiance, women across Iran and in the diaspora are lighting cigarettes using burning images of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This dual protest challenges both strict social norms, which frown upon women smoking, and laws prohibiting disrespect to the nation's leadership.
A Viral Act of Defiance
Videos and photographs of the act have surged across social media, drawing global attention. The women involved are often seen without the mandatory hijab, further amplifying their resistance against state-imposed social controls. While some content originates from within the Islamic Republic, one widely-shared video was filmed by an Iranian woman based in Toronto, Canada.
This striking trend emerges amidst nationwide anti-government protests that have rocked Iran for nearly two weeks. The unrest was initially sparked by the catastrophic collapse of the Iranian rial, which now trades at over 1.4 million to the US dollar, as the economy buckles under international sanctions linked to its nuclear programme.
Protests Intensify into a Challenge to Theocracy
What began as economic demonstrations have rapidly escalated into direct challenges to Iran's theocratic system. Protesters have been heard chanting slogans such as 'Death to the dictator!' and expressing nostalgia for the pre-1979 monarchy. The exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has called for demonstrations, urging supporters to carry the old lion-and-sun flag of the Shah's era.
Authorities have responded with a severe crackdown. In a move to curb the growing turmoil, the government largely cut off internet access across the country last Friday. State television has shown images of burning vehicles and damaged infrastructure, blaming the unrest on exiled opposition groups like the People's Mujahedin Organisation (MKO).
According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, the toll is severe: at least 65 people have been killed and approximately 2,300 detained. Security forces have reportedly fired on protesters, while Supreme Leader Khamenei has vowed not to back down, accusing demonstrators of being puppets of foreign adversaries like the United States.
International Reactions and a Regime Digging In
The international community has begun to respond. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for the 'brave people of Iran,' while Germany condemned the violence against protesters and called for media freedoms to be upheld. The US State Department issued a stark warning, telling Iranian authorities not to 'play games' with President Trump.
Despite the pressure, the regime signals a tightening grip. Iranian state media broadcasts reports of security force casualties while asserting control. With the protests showing no sign of abating and the opposition fragmented but vocal, Iran faces a pivotal moment of internal strife and external scrutiny, centred on fundamental questions of liberty and authority.
