How Iranians are fighting despotic Islamist regime with personal acts of defiance

Iranians are using everyday choices, coded messages and cultural symbols to show opposition to the Islamic Republic after a deadly crackdown on January demonstrations. These low-profile gestures help people signal solidarity and sustain morale, while the article says repression and executions continue.

Examples include clothing bearing the slogan “Make Iran Great Again”, jewellery encoding the protest dates of 18 and 19, and phone ringtones linked to the demonstrations. Some also share meat-patty memes mocking the slain Ayatollah Khamenei. Authorities have banned some resistance-related merchandise and sentenced two more January protesters to death, but sellers reportedly reopen online shops after closures.