RuNet Echo rarely translates entire blog posts, but in this case we are making an exception. In the wake of the Volgograd bus bombing [Global Voices report], when a female suicide bomber killed 6 people and injured dozens more, a Muslim girl wrote a letter to the anonymous blogger hardingush [Global Voices report], a Russian special forces soldier operating with an anti-terrorist team in the North Caucasus who blogs about his experiences. In this letter the girl addressed some of the concerns, fears, and hopes that many Russian Muslims are faced with today. hardingush published [ru] the letter, eliding the girl's personal information, and correcting her spelling, because, as he said “it contains important information that gives hope for the future…” We also think that it's important. Here is the letter in its entirety:

Salaam, Hardingush!

I read everything that you write. Almost from the very start, when you started this blog. Thank you for showing people the other Caucasus. The real Caucasus. I really like how you write. I live in Volgograd. Our family moved here from ______. I am studying in the ______ grade, in the ______ school. I've lived in Volgograd for 6 years. I am, of course, a Muslim. I've never had any problems because of my religion or nationality. But, when the terrorist attack occurred, by parents forbade me to go to school. They were afraid someone might hurt me. Many Muslim girls also didn't go to school and university, because they were afraid that we would be blamed. We wrote to each other on the internet and advised each other not to leave home at all.

My teacher called me, she was also worried about me. I told her that for now I wouldn't come to school. She was very understanding about it. My classmates called me as well, they were also worried. I also told them that for now I can't come to school. The next morning my classmates rang our doorbell. They told me, get your stuff, we will escort you to school and back home as long as it takes, and we won't let anyone hurt you. They are all Russian boys and girls. Even my mom started crying when she heard this.

I just wanted to tell you this. Recently you wrote about the people, and about how no one cares about each other. This is not so. I am accompanied to school by my brothers and sisters – I call them that now, because I can't call them simply classmates. We, Muslims, are against terrorists. We have never supported them. Don't publish this letter, because I don't speak Russian very well and I make many mistakes. But, if you do, please correct my mistakes and don't write my name and where I go to school. I wrote them only for you. I just wanted to tell you that things aren't so bad.