Iranian women appear to have ignited a striking new form of protest amid the continuing unrest gripping the country, with images and videos circulating widely on social media showing women lighting cigarettes from burning photographs of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The act, laden with symbolism, has emerged as a bold expression of defiance at a time when Iran is witnessing intensified protests and violent crackdowns. Observers say the gesture reflects growing anger and frustration, particularly among women, over political repression, social restrictions, and alleged human rights abuses.

The unrest, described by rights groups as among the most severe in recent years, has been marked by bloody confrontations between protesters and security forces, arrests, and internet restrictions. Women have remained at the forefront of the demonstrations, often using symbolic acts to challenge authority and draw global attention to their cause.

Analysts note that the burning of the Supreme Leader’s image — and the deliberate act of lighting cigarettes from it — represents a sharp escalation in protest imagery, breaking long-standing taboos in a country where criticism of the leadership is heavily punished.

Iranian authorities have not officially responded to the latest images, but past protests have been met with strict enforcement measures, including detentions and censorship. State media has largely downplayed the demonstrations, while activists say information from inside the country continues to be tightly controlled.

Despite the risks, the emergence of such symbolic resistance underscores what activists describe as a deepening challenge to the political establishment, with women increasingly shaping the tone and direction of dissent in Iran.