In London, an evocative moment of resistance has captured international attention, starring a woman in Canada whose simple act of lighting a cigarette from a burning photo has become emblematic of defiance against Iran's harsh suppression of dissent.
The brief, yet potent footage shows the woman - who identifies as an Iranian refugee - opening a lighter to ignite a picture of Iran's supreme cleric, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. As the image burns, she draws a cigarette's tip into the flame, inhales, and allows the charred remains to drop onto the ground. Whether this display was spontaneous or premeditated continues to stir discussion, but its status as a defining protest image is indisputable amid ongoing demonstrations against Iran's faltering economy and escalating political crisis, coinciding with renewed U.S. contemplation of military options toward Tehran.
Replicas of this gesture have transcended digital platforms, inspiring protesters from Israel and various European countries to the United States to light cigarettes on similar portraits of the Ayatollah, signaling widespread solidarity across geographical boundaries.
Lasting approximately 34 seconds, the clip has circulated through social media channels such as X, Instagram, and Reddit, resonating with viewers who witness an individual challenging theocratic laws and societal norms in a compelling act of personal sovereignty. Notably, the woman forsakes wearing a hijab, referencing a broader feminist and political movement sparked three years prior during the “Women, Life, Freedom” campaign protesting mandatory head coverings.
Her actions concurrently violate multiple prohibitions under the Islamic Republic: the destruction of an image of the supreme leader—a capital offense, the exposure of uncurtained hair, and publicly lighting a cigarette, an act deemed immodest within Iranian culture. These layers of defiance, magnified millionsfold through online sharing, elevate her to a historic role among dissenters.
Controlling the Narrative
In 2026, social media platforms are pivotal arenas for shaping public perception and influence regarding the unrest in Iran. Protestors frame their struggle as a response to governmental oppression and maladministration, while Iranian authorities continue to portray the upheaval as engineered by foreign powers such as the United States and Israel aimed at destabilizing the regime.
Both factions vie persistently to dominate the lasting record and interpretation of events.
A protester ignites an image of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with a cigarette during a rally in Zurich supporting Iranian mass demonstrations, Jan. 13, 2026.
State Crackdowns and Information Warfare
State media in Iran have announced numerous arrests targeting those described as "terrorists," including efforts to locate and confiscate Starlink satellite internet dishes, which serve as a critical link for transmitting videos and images outside the country's heavily censored online environment.
Despite the regime's forceful suppression, which activists report has resulted in over 2,615 fatalities—the deadliest wave of unrest in decades resembling historic upheavals of the 1979 Islamic Revolution—social media continues to amplify protest symbols such as lighting cigarettes from images of Iran's leadership, underscoring a vibrant, if perilous, form of resistance.
Notably, Republican U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana echoed this sentiment online with the hashtag "#Iran."
However, the digital age's susceptibility to misinformation and manipulation has prompted skepticism regarding the video’s authenticity and context. Questions arose about specifics such as the geographic setting, which some viewers identified as Canada, a detail confirmed by the woman herself in media interviews. Other observers questioned the veracity of visual elements like the flame's realism and the proximity of her hair to the fire—underscoring the complex interplay of perception and reality in the modern media landscape.
Such ambiguity leads to speculation about whether this footage constitutes psychological operations, or "psyops," a tactic with historical precedent whereby imagery is disseminated by interested parties to influence morale or opinion, a strategy spanning conflicts from World War II to the Cold War.
A protester lights a cigarette from a burning poster of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during a demonstration in Berlin supporting the Iranian protests, Jan. 14, 2026.
The United States military openly acknowledges psychological warfare efforts, as indicated by a Ft. Bragg recruitment video titled "Ghost in the Machine 2," replete with references to "PSYWAR." Similarly, the Gaza conflict has prominently featured battles over visual narratives through the public release of hostages’ images and family reunions. Regardless of origin, the footage's global impact has spurred real-world emulation at protests, reinforcing its symbolic potency.
The Woman Behind the Image
While the woman has not responded to repeated inquiries for confirmation by journalists, interviews with other outlets affirm the video’s authenticity. She identifies online as "Morticia Addams," a name borrowed from a fictional character, reflecting a personal affinity for gothic themes.
For safety concerns grounded in past experiences, she withholds her real identity. She details her arduous path as a dissenter within Iran, including arrests and abuses, culminating in her refugee status and residence in Toronto, Canada.
Her activism dates back to an initial arrest at age 17 during Iran's 2019 "bloody November" protests triggered by U.S. withdrawal from an international nuclear agreement. She recounts being detained, suffering physical force, and remaining hidden from her family under interrogation, only released following bail secured through family intervention. Continuous surveillance followed.
During 2022 demonstrations sparked by Mahsa Amini's custodial death, she participated in anti-hijab campaigns on YouTube, subsequently receiving threatening calls from blocked numbers. In 2024, after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, she publicly shared her experience, resulting in another arrest marked by severe mistreatment. She was later released on a substantial bail and fled Iran for Turkey before securing student entry to Canada.
She reported anxiety for the safety of relatives still in Iran, from whom she has not heard recently, fearing governmental retaliation.
The now mid-20s refugee says her symbolic video, filmed in Toronto on January 7, was intended to communicate emotional solidarity with those enduring repression in Iran, coinciding with a subsequent near-total internet shutdown by the Iranian government.
A demonstrator ignites a cigarette from a burning poster of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a rally in Holon, Israel supporting Iran's protests Jan. 14, 2026.