“The Filipino man and woman were caught in seclusion by members of the commission in Barzan. They were told that this was prohibited by Islamic law and were made to sign a pledge never to do this again,” said a spokesman for the commission.

He added that the man, who works for a private company, told commission members that he was in love with the woman, who works as an embroiderer, and that he wanted to marry her.

The couple were then taken to the center for foreign communities in Hail to learn about Islam.

“Within 18 hours, they announced that they had embraced Islam,” said the spokesman, adding that the man took the name Sami and the woman took the name Mariam. “The two will soon be married according to Islamic rituals,” he said.

The spokesman said the head of the commission’s office in Barzan, Sheikh Nawwaf Al-Jidaie, and his staff would pay for the couple to visit Makkah.