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EDL viral photo woman denies minute's silence interruption | EDL viral photo woman denies minute's silence interruption |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A woman pictured smiling at the leader of the English Defence League (EDL) has denied an allegation she interrupted a minute's silence for terror victims. | |
The image of Saffiyah Khan's confrontation with Ian Crossland, in Birmingham, went viral. | |
EDL supporters claimed on social media Ms Khan was in a group that interrupted a tribute for Stockholm attack victims. | |
She said it was "an attempt at a smear because the story is in my favour", adding she was defending another woman. | |
The EDL has been contacted for a response. | The EDL has been contacted for a response. |
Tommy Robinson, EDL founder and former leader, said on Twitter he had confirmation Ms Khan was defending a woman in a navy hijab. | Tommy Robinson, EDL founder and former leader, said on Twitter he had confirmation Ms Khan was defending a woman in a navy hijab. |
He described the photograph as embarrassing for the EDL. | He described the photograph as embarrassing for the EDL. |
"Why get angry with a woman, regardless of what she's saying to them?," he tweeted. | |
'Wasn't pleasant' | |
Ms Khan told the Victoria Derbyshire programme: "It'd like to make it very clear that people who know me.... would tell you and vouch for me that a minute's silence by either side - the EDL or UAF (Unite Against Fascism) - I would happily respect. | |
"But the fact of the matter is - and the video shows it - there wasn't a minute's silence while I was there." | "But the fact of the matter is - and the video shows it - there wasn't a minute's silence while I was there." |
For more on this and other Birmingham and Black Country stories | For more on this and other Birmingham and Black Country stories |
Ms Khan, from Birmingham, said she stepped forward when another woman shouted "Islamophobe" at EDL members in Centenary Square on Saturday. | Ms Khan, from Birmingham, said she stepped forward when another woman shouted "Islamophobe" at EDL members in Centenary Square on Saturday. |
She said the woman was "quite intimidated" and was being told she was "not British" and being questioned about Islam. | She said the woman was "quite intimidated" and was being told she was "not British" and being questioned about Islam. |
Ms Khan said despite her smile in the photograph "it wasn't a pleasant interaction". | Ms Khan said despite her smile in the photograph "it wasn't a pleasant interaction". |
"His aggression can be seen by the picture," she said. | "His aggression can be seen by the picture," she said. |
Ms Khan later told the Press Association she had no idea the man involved was EDL leader Mr Crossland. | |
Ms Khan, whose father taught her to stand up to prejudice, said: "Sometimes it is more important to smile than to shout. | Ms Khan, whose father taught her to stand up to prejudice, said: "Sometimes it is more important to smile than to shout. |
"But I did a fair bit of shouting too - I'm under no delusion about that - but it's a really powerful message." | "But I did a fair bit of shouting too - I'm under no delusion about that - but it's a really powerful message." |
Ms Khan said earlier in the confrontation she told him "racist scum get off our streets". |