London: Tony Blair's sister-in-law has converted to Islam, after having what she describes as a "holy experience" while visiting Iran.
Journalist and broadcaster Lauren Booth, Cherie Blair's sister, now wears a hijab whenever she leaves home, prays five times a day and attends her local mosque regularly.
She decided to become a Muslim six weeks ago after visiting the shrine of Fatima Al Masumeh in the city of Qom.
"It was a Tuesday evening and I sat down and felt this shot of spiritual morphine, just absolute bliss and joy," she said, adding that on her return to Britain, she decided to convert immediately.
Booth who works for Press TV, the English-language Iranian news channel, has stopped eating pork and reads the Quran every day. She says she's now reached page 60.
She's also stopped drinking alcohol and has not wanted a drink, she says, since she converted.
Before her spiritual awakening in Iran, she had been "sympathetic" to Islam and spent considerable time working in Palestine.
She points out that she hopes her conversion will help her brother-in-law Blair to change his attitude towards Islam.
