London: The British ambassador to Saudi Arabia has completed the Haj pilgrimage after converting to Islam, The Independent reported.
It is widely believed that Simon Collis may be the first British ambassador to perform the holy trip.
The development came to the fore when his photographs at the pilgrimage site wearing white robes traditionally worn for the pilgrimage came to the fore. He has been pictured along with his wife Huda Mujarkech. He has since revealed he converted to the faith shortly before their marriage in 2011, the report added.
The photographs have been tweeted by Fawziah Albakr, a Saudi Arabian writer. She wrote in Arabic: “First British ambassador to the Kingdom undertakes the Haj following his conversion to Islam. Simon Collis with his wife Huda in Mecca. Praise be to God.”
Mr Collis tweeted in Arabic that after living among Muslim cultures for 30 years he had converted to Islam prior to his marriage. Well-wishers tweeted their congratulations to Mr Collis and his wife, to which he replied “Thank you and Id Mubarak”, wishing them a blessed Id festival, the report added.
