Simon Collis has converted to Islam
Britain’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Simon Collis has converted to Islam to become the first UK senior diplomat in the Gulf Kingdom to perform Haj (pilgrimage).
Ajel newspaper published a picture of Collis and his wife dressed in pilgrimage clothes during the current Haj rituals in the Western town of Makkah.
It said the picture has gone viral on social networks after it was published by noted Saudi columnist Fawzieh Al Bakri, a friend of Colis.
The paper said Collis, who has studied Arabic language, was UK ambassador in Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq and Syria before moving to Saudi Arabia.