Key Highlights
- People are sharing and reposting them thousands of times, turning the act into a strong symbol of defiance against Iran's leaders. Here is what you need to knowIn Iran, burning a picture of the Supreme Leader is treated as a serious crime.
- Smoking in public has also long been discouraged or restricted for women, especially under strict social and religious rules.
- By combining the two, setting fire to Khamenei's photo and then lighting a cigarette from it, the women are openly challenging both the government's authority and the tight controls on women's lives, including mandatory hijab laws. The trend has emerged at a time when Iran is dealing with a serious economic crisis.
- High inflation, a weak currency, and rising food prices have made many people furious, leading to fresh protests in cities around the country.
- Reports say demonstrators have also burned images of other senior officials and damaged statues connected to the regime. Read more: Iran Protests: Trump Says Meeting Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi Won't Be AppropriateIran's Crown Prince Reza Shah Pahlavi, who is in exile, has encouraged the protestors.
