Why Images Of Iranian Women Lighting Cigarettes With Khamenei's Photo Are Going Viral

A striking new protest trend involving Iranian women is rapidly spreading across the global internet, drawing attention to growing unrest within Iran. Viral videos show women lighting cigarettes by burning photographs of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an act widely viewed as a direct challenge to the country's political and religious authority.

The trend, which was first witnessed in Canada in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, has now resurfaced and spread widely across social media platforms worldwide. Clips circulating on X, Instagram, Reddit and Telegram have been viewed and reposted thousands of times, turning the act into a powerful symbol of defiance that observers say is increasingly difficult for authorities to contain.

Iranian women spark a new trend by burning images of the Ayatollah in protest
byu/2birahe inpics

Burning the image of the Supreme Leader is considered a serious offence under Iranian law. By combining this act with smoking, an activity long restricted or discouraged for women, the protesters appear to be deliberately rejecting both state power and strict social controls, including mandatory hijab enforcement and limits on women's personal freedoms.

🇮🇷 Las mujeres de Irán vuelven tendencia fotografiarse prendiendo un cigarrillo con la foto en llamas del líder supremo, Ali Jamenei. pic.twitter.com/ufYLoNaphU

— Progresismo Out Of Context (@OOCprogresismo2) January 9, 2026

The renewed visibility of the trend comes as Iran faces mounting economic pressure. Soaring inflation, a sharply weakening currency and rising food prices have fuelled public anger, triggering fresh protests in several cities. Demonstrators have also been reported burning images of senior leaders and damaging statues linked to the ruling establishment.

This form of protest builds on the movement that erupted after Mahsa Amini's death in 2022. While large street demonstrations were forcefully suppressed, resistance has increasingly shifted toward symbolic acts that can spread instantly online and evade traditional crackdowns.

Despite repeated warnings from Iranian authorities, the growing circulation of these videos suggests the protest has evolved into a global digital phenomenon, keeping Iranian women's resistance firmly in the international spotlight.