HOW SHOULD WE TREAT ISLAM AFTER BESLAN?

The Arabic word "Islam" means "peace". And yet, in the name of a religion that bears such a worthy name, the most abominable murders are committed. In modern society, it is not customary to ask neighbors about their nationality and religious views. But the tragedy in Beslan made us think about the extent of our differences. The tragedy of the Islamic world is that it has not yet developed a stable immunity simply of its own radicals. But this illness of his hurts us - his neighbors not only on the planet, but also on the street...

This collection brings together six of my speeches on the topic of the Chechen conflict and terrorism: articles in Izvestia, Trud, Ogonyok, Tribune, and a speech on the Echo of Moscow radio. The distance between them is almost ten years. The reality in Moscow and Chechnya has changed. Has Islam changed? I don't know. But my judgments on these topics have become harsher. And not only mine. More and more bewilderment, condemnation, and indignation against Islam are accumulating among Christians. And, therefore, it is becoming more difficult for Muslims to live next to us. In order for the precious guarantee of Russia's unity – peace between Christians and Muslims – not to collapse, it is necessary for the Islamic world itself to realize the problem of Islamic terror as its disease. The usual incantations on the topic "terrorists have no religion and nationality" are an aid in the spread of the concealed disease, and not a cure for it.