British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Converts to Islam

(Baonghean.vn) - Mr. Simon Collins - British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia has just confirmed that he has converted to Islam after a long time working as a diplomat in Muslim countries, including Iraq and Syria.

Photo of Mr. Collins and his wife during their pilgrimage to Mecca. Photo: Twitter

Mr Simon Collins was the first British diplomat to perform the revered Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. His wife, Huda Mujarkesh, is a Syrian Muslim.

A photo of him and his wife in traditional white clothes during the Hajj was posted on social media by Fawziah al-Bakr, a Saudi Arabian women's rights activist, on September 12.

Collins began his tenure as Ambassador in Riyadh in 2015, having previously been the UK's representative in Syria until the escalation of hostilities in 2011-2012. He was also the UK Ambassador to Qatar and a member of the UK diplomatic mission in Bahrain, Tunisia, India, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

After news of Mr Collins’ conversion to Islam became public, he thanked those who had sent him congratulations, saying he had decided to convert to Islam “after 30 years in a Muslim society.” Among those who sent him congratulations were two members of the Saudi royal family.

After converting and performing the pilgrimage, Mr Collins can now use the honorific title reserved for those who have visited the Muslim holy site: “Ambassador Haji Collins”.

According to officials of the London Mosque in England, they hope that with his special position, Mr. Collins can demonstrate good relations between Muslims and non-Muslims.

However, Mr Collins is not the first British diplomat to convert to Islam.

The first British diplomat to convert to Islam was Abdullah William Quilliam, British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century, who was dissatisfied with Britain's imperial policy towards Sudan. In the 1950s, Charles le Gai Eaton was also a diplomat who converted to Islam before serving in India, Trinidad and Ghana.

Diep Khanh

(According to RT)