Daniel Streich
Encyclopedia
Daniel Streich 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
.
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. 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.
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.
A Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
that converted to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
and then to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, Daniel Streich, left the Swiss People's Party over the campaign for the national ban on the construction of new minarets
Minaret controversy in Switzerland
The minaret controversy in Switzerland refers to construction of minarets, which has been subject to legal and political controversy in Switzerland during the 2000s and a Swiss referendum regarding this issue. In a November 2009 referendum, a constitutional amendment banning the construction of new...
.
Biography
Streich was founding member and president of the GruyèresGruyères
Gruyères is a town in the district of Gruyère in the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland. Its German name is Greyerz.The medieval town is an important tourist location in the upper valley of the Saane river, and gives its name to the well-known cheese. In this town, a trackless train is the only...
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. 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
Swiss referendum, November 2009
On 29 November 2009, the citizens of Switzerland voted on a referendum to decide on three proposals on the federal level:* a ban on the construction of new minarets , passed with 57% in favour; The referendum took place following a campaign to ban minarets in the country.* a ban on exporting...
. He then participated in setting up the Conservative Democratic Party cantonal section.
Steich's case was reported by the most read daily newspaper in Switzerland - 20 Minuten
20 Minuten
20 Minuten is a free German language daily newspaper in Switzerland, distributed to commuters at over 150 train stations across the country.The newspaper was first published in 1999 by "20 Minuten Schweiz AG"...
on 23 November, during the week preceding the referendum and the story was picked up by the tabloid newspaper Blick
Blick
Blick is a German-language daily tabloid newspaper published in Zürich, Switzerland since 1959 by Ringier.It has a circulation of 275,000 and a readership of 750,000 . Only the free daily 20 Minuten has a higher circulation in Switzerland....
on the following day.
See also
- Swiss referendum, November 2009Swiss referendum, November 2009On 29 November 2009, the citizens of Switzerland voted on a referendum to decide on three proposals on the federal level:* a ban on the construction of new minarets , passed with 57% in favour; The referendum took place following a campaign to ban minarets in the country.* a ban on exporting...
- Religion in SwitzerlandReligion in SwitzerlandSwitzerland has no country-wide state religion, though most of the cantons recognize official churches , in all cases including the Catholic Church and the Swiss Reformed Church...