Former British prime minister Tony Blair's sister-in-law, Lauren Booth, has become the latest in a long line of Western Islamic converts after Iran's visit.

Ms Booth, who works for the Iranian state news channel Press TV, said she decided to become a Muslim after being overwhelmed during a visit to a Fatima al-Masumeh shrine in the city of Qom, Iran.

"I felt this shot of spiritual morphine: just absolute bliss and joy," she said. When she returned to Britain six weeks ago, she decided to convert. "Now I don't eat pork, and read the Quran every day," she said.

She said: "Islam requires women to cover their hair and hide the shape of the body. If you think of the areas where women typically achieve a high profile – singing, acting, modelling – these things tend not to be compatible with these requirements.

Booth also said that she had always been “sympathetic” to Islam.

Booth said she hoped her conversion would have an impact on Blair helping him to change his presumptions about Islam.