Heartbreaking letter 'left on London bus by Muslim girl' after Westminster attack

Anonymous letter: 'As I was watching the news it dawned on me that I would go into school and people would expect answers.'

A heartbreaking letter has attracted Londoners' praise after it was apparently left on a bus by a Muslim schoolgirl following the Westminster terror attack.

The anonymous letter explains how the 14-year-old felt “almost guilty” as the horrific attacks were discussed in her class at school the following day.

She told how another schoolgirl apparently asked her where she was during the aftermath of the terrifying events that left four victims dead on Wednesday, March 22.

The letter, which is receiving praise online, was said to have been found on a bus and emerged online on Sunday – almost two weeks after terrorist Khalid Masood went on a violent rampage in which four innocent people died.

Anonymous letter: 'I was scared that maybe I would be assaulted because of the many labels that come with wearing a hijab
crlxzzz/Reddit

The letter, which has been viewed more than 5,000 times since it was uploaded, reads: “The next day I woke up early and as I was watching the news it dawned on me that I would go into school and people would expect answers.”

It added: “I went into form and as we spoke about the current affairs I felt all eyes on me.

“I felt flushed and hot suddenly - almost guilty? What do I have to be guilty for? I couldn't determine if I was being paranoid or eyes were darting to the corner of the room to where I was sitting.

“I walked into my first lesson and a girl had asked me where I was the night before, I laughed it off because I knew she was joking and that's what humans do when they don't know what to say.”

The anonymous 14-year-old told of how she every Saturday walks through Westminster but had to “think twice” following the attack, fearing she may be assaulted for wearing a hijab.

The letter was addressed to everyone in the capital, signed: 'from a Muslim'
crlxzzz/Reddit

The letter continued: “We may be Muslim but we don't want to hurt you. We aren't terrorists.

“Every Saturday I pass through Westminster and I had to think twice about it this time.

“I was scared that maybe I would be assaulted because of the many labels that come with wearing a hijab.”

Responding to the letter, some have praised the author for apparently speaking out on the issue.

One wrote online: “Genuinely heartbreaking to have read that a 14 year old Muslim girl feels this way.

“Hopefully, with our actions, both Muslim and non-Muslim, together we can show she doesn't have to feel this way.”

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Another wrote: I've been moved by this and I hope it'll have an effect on the public to stop treating Muslims (or anyone else regardless of race, religion, gender, etc.) differently.

“There's no reason to blame somebody else, or even treat them differently, for an action that they don't have any control over, at all, regardless of circumstance.”

Muslim schoolgirls were among thousands of people who joined hands on Westminster Bridge in a show of defiance following the terror attack.

Service: Sheikh Mohammad al-Hilli in Westminster
AP

Sunni Sheikh Khalifa Ezzat, head Imam at the London Central Mosque, and Sheikh Mohammed Al-Hilli, representing Shia Muslims, joined other faith leaders for a service just metres from the scene.

Mr Ezzat said: "We condemn this act, which killed innocent people, and those criminals, we shouldn't link them with Islam because Islam, and all religion, calls for peace, co-existence and tolerance.

"What those criminals are doing is not from the principles of Islam. They want to divide us.

"We are here together to stand together and to show solidarity, to show co-operation, to face those people and these crimes."

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