Iranian digital political cartoonists at the forefront of ‘woman, Life, freedom’ protests

This article analyses political cartoons created by Iranian cartoonists during the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement that erupted in September 2022 following the arrest and tragic death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the notorious morality police. The research’s unique and distinctive approach enables an exploration of the function and impact of these cartoons as a medium for political commentary, visual protest, and empathy towards suffering people, in addition to serving as instruments of resistance within a severely constrained media landscape. The relief theory of humour establishes a theoretical framework in which political cartoons serve as a mechanism for alleviating stress by offering viewers palliative opportunities to vent their anger, frustration, and dissatisfaction concerning specific events. Critical Discourse Analysis reveals that Iranian cartoonists challenge power structures and dominant ideologies while exposing and critiquing the vices, brutality, and shortcomings of the theocratic regime. They go beyond the mere psychological aspects of humour and, through subversive humour, creative expression, and political agency, promote protest, resistance, and hope. © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.