Iranian Women Burn Khamenei's Photo to Light Cigarettes in Unique Protest

• Iranian women are burning photos of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to light cigarettes as a unique form of protest.
• This act simultaneously rejects state authority and challenges strict social norms against women smoking in public.
• The trend emerges amid severe economic hardship, public dissatisfaction, and renewed protests across Iran.
• The protest method is difficult for authorities to contain as it doesn't rely on mass gatherings and spreads widely online.
• This symbolic resistance follows widespread protests triggered by Mahsa Amini's death in 2022, which saw diverse tactics.

Why It Matters: Iranian women are using a symbolic act of defiance to protest economic hardship and challenge state authority.