Iran Protest Videos Show Women Burning Khamenei's Image
Under Iranian law, burning or defacing images of the Supreme Leader is considered a serious criminal offence
Short video clips circulating on social media appear to show Iranian women burning photographs of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and using the flames to light cigarettes, a provocative act that has drawn widespread attention amid renewed unrest in Iran.
The videos, which could not be independently verified, have emerged as the country faces deepening economic hardship and growing public anger toward the political establishment. Demonstrations that began in late December have escalated into one of the most serious challenges to Iran’s clerical leadership since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to analysts.
Under Iranian law, burning or defacing images of the Supreme Leader is considered a serious criminal offence, as the position combines both political and religious authority. Separately, women smoking in public has long been discouraged or restricted under Iran’s social and religious norms. By combining the two acts, protesters appear to be deliberately confronting both state power and entrenched social controls.
The symbolism has been amplified by broader acts of defiance, including public resistance to compulsory hijab rules. Together, the gestures have been widely interpreted as a rejection of the authority and values enforced by the state.
The protests have at times turned violent. Iranian authorities have imposed internet shutdowns and restricted telephone access, limiting the flow of information from inside the country.
As images and videos continue to spread online, the acts captured in the clips have become a stark symbol of the depth of public frustration and the increasingly visible role of women in Iran’s protest movement.