This Woman Laughed At A Far-Right Protester And People Think It's Badass AF

Saffiyah Khan told BuzzFeed News she intervened after a Muslim woman in a headscarf was surrounded by EDL members.

The far-right English Defence League held a protest in Birmingham on Saturday, in response to last month's Westminster attack.

Joe Giddens / PA Wire/PA Images

The attacker, Khalid Masood, was believed to have lived in Birmingham.

During the protest, Saffiyah Khan, from Birmingham, came face to face with EDL leader Ian Crossland.

Joe Giddens / PA Wire/PA Images

Khan told BuzzFeed News she was completely low-key at the protest and didn't say anything until a Muslim woman in a blue headscarf (pictured below) was surrounded by EDL members.

Joe Giddens / PA Wire/PA Images

Khan, who comes from a Muslim background, said: "I ended up going to the EDL demo because there is a history of harassment and assault of Muslims, vulnerable members of the public, and people of colour at the demos and outside of it."

She added: "I went with the intent of showing support for anyone who was assaulted or harassed by them."

During the rally, Press Association photographer Joe Giddens snapped several pictures of Khan facing off with Crossland.

Joe Giddens / PA Wire/PA Images

Khan said the EDL leader put his finger in her face but she stood her ground because she is not easily intimidated by anyone.

"I didn't feel threatened in the slightest way," Khan said. "Though later the 25ish individuals who were circling [the woman in the blue headscarf] then came to circle me and the other individuals who had an issue with that situation."

The photo of Khan quickly went viral on social media. The Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, Jess Phillips, praised Khan as a "real Brummy".

Jess Phillips MP @jessphillips

Who looks like they have power here, the real Brummy on the left or the EDL who migrated for the day to our city an… https://t.co/OQPxAoi1iv

Sat Apr 08 19:04:02 UTC+0000 2017

And many, many others soon followed.

Sister Alexis @AlexisTrust

This lady in Birmingham 👏🙌

06:13 PM - 08 Apr 2017

Twitter: @postenterprise

Some called the photo amazing.

Brett @599bt

Amazing picture ....Young woman stares down the face of racist hate during today's #EDL knuckle dragging protest. 😊👍

08:52 PM - 08 Apr 2017

Twitter: @muireannf

And loved that she kept smiling.

Tom Jarvis @jarvo02

@jessphillips She's still smiling and kept her hands in her pockets. Totally unfazed. Big respect.

10:50 PM - 08 Apr 2017

Jo Grady @DrJoGrady

Iconic photo from @jjgiddens This is simply the most perfect response to EDL hatred; calm, somewhat nonchalant, d… https://t.co/GhG8K4bWIA

09:23 AM - 09 Apr 2017

Earlier in the day, Birmingham Central Mosque held a tea party to counter the EDL protest.

Joe Giddens / PA Wire/PA Images

The Birmingham Mail reported the party had three times as many participants than the far-right demo.