- Daniel Streich
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Daniel Streich 
Personal details Born Bulle, Switzerland Nationality Swiss Political party SVP (2003-2009)
Conservative Democratic PartyResidence Bulle, Switzerland Profession Politician Military service Service/branch Swiss Army Rank Military Instructor Daniel Streich (born in Bulle, Canton of Fribourg) is a Swiss military instructor, community council member and a former member of Swiss People’s Party. A Protestant that converted to Catholicism and then to Islam, Daniel Streich, left the Swiss People's Party over the campaign for the national ban on the construction of new minarets.[1][2]
Biography
Streich was founding member and president of the Gruyères section of the party from 2003 to 2007. His followed conversion to Islam in 2005, before which he was a devout Catholic, with one of his given explanations on this conversion is that this newly discovered religion offered him "logical answers to important life questions". He then resigned from his presidency in June 2007 citing his discomfort with certain "extremist" positions of the party, especially the campaign to ban nationwide the construction of new minarets.[3][4] While Streich in 2007 stated that he had "many Muslim friends" he did not make public his personal conversion to Islam until early November 2009, when he left the Swiss People's Party in protest against their campaign for the impending referendum of 29 November 2009. He then participated in setting up the Conservative Democratic Party cantonal section.[5]
Steich's case was reported by the most read daily newspaper in Switzerland - 20 Minuten on 23 November, during the week preceding the referendum and the story was picked up by the tabloid newspaper Blick on the following day.[5][1]
References
- ^ a b Von Michael Scharenberg (November 11, 2009). "Muslime in Uniform: Sicherheits-Risiko für unsere Armee? - Schweiz - News - Blick.ch" (in German). Blicko. http://www.blick.ch/news/schweiz/sicherheits-risiko-fuer-unsere-armee-134102. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
- ^ Jason Hamza van Boom (February 10, 2010). "A Swiss Politician's Conversion: Facts vs Myth". OpEdNews. http://www.opednews.com/articles/A-Swiss-Politician-s-Conve-by-Jason-Hamza-van-Bo-100210-596.html. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- ^ Thierry Jacolet (June 11, 2007). "UDC Gruyère - Daniel Streich abandonne la présidence". udc-fr.ch. http://www.udc-fr.ch/medienmittei_20fr.php?id_medien=524. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
- ^ Patrick Pugin (June 9, 2007). "Le président démissionne". lagruyere.ch. http://www.lagruyere.ch/archives/2007/07.06.09/gruyere.htm. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
- ^ a b "20 Minuten Online - Ex-SVPler: «Schweiz braucht mehr Moscheen» - Schweiz" (in German). 20 Minuten. November 23, 2009. http://www.20min.ch/news/schweiz/story/27286120. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
See also
- Swiss referendum, November 2009
- Religion in Switzerland
Categories:- Living people
- Swiss Muslims
- Converts to Islam from Catholicism
- Swiss People's Party politicians
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