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LONDON — The sister-in-law of former prime minister Tony Blair has
converted to Islam following a visit to Iran, saying she is a "proud
member" of the Muslim community.

Lauren Booth has given up alcohol
and pork, prays five times a day and has not ruled out wearing a burqa
in the future, she told The Mail on Sunday.

The 43-year-old
journalist and reality television contestant underwent the religious
conversion following a visit to the holy Iranian city of Qom six weeks
ago.

She said that when she was in Iran, "I sat down and felt this shot of spiritual morphine, just absolute bliss and joy."

Speaking
to the newspaper after a multi-faith Global Peace and Unity Event in
London on Saturday, Booth said: "What I wanted to share with you today
is that I am Lauren Booth and I am a Muslim.

"I always felt that the Ummah (Muslim community) is a very loving, peaceful place and I am proud to be a member of it."

Booth,
who works for the English language Iranian news channel Press TV, has
frequently criticised her brother-in-law, accusing the former leader of
being biased towards Israel and the United States in his role as Middle
East peace envoy.

She wrote a scathing open letter in last month's far-left newspaper Morning Star.

"Personally I've never understood this fear of 'political Islam',"... >>>