Iranians Use Everyday Symbols to Defy Government, Reports Say

Iranians are reportedly turning to subtle acts of defiance, such as secret codes and symbolic products, to express opposition to the government following a crackdown on large-scale demonstrations in January, according to a protest leader who spoke to The Post.

The source claimed that as many as 75,000 people were killed when authorities responded to millions of demonstrators in Tehran, though this figure has not been independently verified and is likely to be disputed. In the aftermath, citizens have adopted covert methods to communicate their continued resistance.

For instance, some shops are said to be selling T-shirts with the phrase 'Make Iran Great Again' and the Lion and Sun flag, the country's pre-1979 national emblem, as reported by the protest leader. Additionally, jewelry featuring the numbers 18 and 19, representing the dates of the January protests, has become a quiet form of protest.

One innovative tactic involves setting bank PIN codes to 1819, a number that merchants often ask customers to enter publicly during card transactions. 'Now everyone says 1819 to tell the world that the fight is still ongoing,' the protest leader told The Post. Furthermore, many have set their phone ringtones to 'Violin' by Ukrainian musician Taras Bazeev, known as Toneloom, which has become an unofficial anthem for the protest movement.

These acts are described as a 'release valve' for a public still reeling from the crackdown, providing a sense of therapeutic defiance and lifting spirits. The protest leader added that such gestures also serve to intimidate the authorities, though the effectiveness of these measures remains unclear.

The report also mentions that Iranians are sharing memes featuring kotlet, a Persian meat patty, to mock the late Ayatollah Khamenei. The use of everyday items and symbols highlights the creative ways in which some Iranians are expressing dissent under restrictive conditions.