Heinz Gstrein Explained

Heinz Gstrein (6 December 1941 – 1 December 2023) was an Austrian-Swiss Oriental Orthodox theologian, foreign correspondent, non-fiction author and a lecturer at the University of Vienna.

Early life and career

Gstrein was born in Innsbruck on 6 December 1941.[1] He studied Oriental Studies, Slavic Studies and Theology in Innsbruck, Istanbul, Vienna and Paris. He graduated as a doctor phil. He was a foreign correspondent for many years in the Middle East, the Balkans and Eastern Europe, where he reported for the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) and the Swiss Radio DRS. This was followed by scientific activities in Zürich and Vienna. He was also Deputy Director of the Institute G2W Faith in the 2nd World in Zürich. He was a lecturer in Ottoman History, Culture, Religion and Islamic Law at the University of Vienna (ULG) Balkan Studies. He was President of the Association of Orthodox Churches in Switzerland (AGOK) and campaigned for Christians living, oppressed and persecuted in Islamic states. He also described the situation of Syrian Christians in the civil war.[2]

Political engagement in the Swiss minaret dispute

In the run-up to the plebiscite on the minaret initiative in Switzerland in 2009, he was involved in the camp of supporters. He wanted to draw attention to the increasing Islamization since the 1970s, which began in Egypt, Algeria and Iran. The public impact of Islam's claim to power would now have reached Switzerland as well, which is why he supported and supported the minaret initiative in order to set a signal against "political Islamization". The minaret is usually a sign of victory and visibility for Islam. In addition, many Islamic states did not or no longer have the right to counter the construction and restoration of Christian churches.[3] [4] [5] [6] In 2010 he wrote an opinion on the unconstitutionality and particular danger of the organization Islamic Central Council Switzerland (IZRS). In it he demanded their ban because it was not compatible with Swiss legal norms.

Opponents of the initiative and daily newspapers like the Basler Zeitung tried to professionally disqualify him and thus discredit him. Gstrein was able to rehabilitate the majority and continue his teaching as a lecturer for Balkan studies at the University of Vienna.[7] [8] Gstrein was also a columnist of the Viennese Die Furche and hephaestus wien.[9]

Personal life and death

Gstrein was married and lived mainly at Erlenbach on Lake Zurich. He died on 1 December 2023, at the age of 81.[10]

Works

As author

As co-author

Notes

  1. Web site: Tagungsprogramm . Evangelischen Volkspartei.
  2. http://www.gemeindenetzwerk.de/?p=11382#more-11382 Heinz Gstrein: Mord, Pogrom, Kreuzigung. 30 September 2014
  3. Heinz Gstrein: Die Neuordnung des Nahen Osten. Islamischer Einfluß und geopolitische Interessen nach 9/11 und dem „Arabischen Frühling“.
  4. Web site: Archived copy . 14 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208064207/http://ksis.ch/fileadmin/dateien/In_der_Presse/Gstrein_auf_Kettiger.pdf . 8 December 2015 . dead .
  5. Heinz Gstrein: Der Islam wird zersetzt – und er setzt sich durch.
  6. Heinz Gstrein: Man muss irgendwo anfangen, um die politische Islamisierung zu stoppen.
  7. Daniel Gerber: Heinz Gstrein rehabilitiert.
  8. http://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/schweiz/anti-islamisierungs-gruppe-will-mit-60000-broschueren-ueber-islamisierung-aufklaeren-8430689 Anti-Islamisierungs-Gruppe will mit 60.000 Broschüren über Islamisierung «aufklären»
  9. Web site: Heinz Gstrein. Hephaestus Wien.
  10. News: Orthodoxie-Experte Heinz Gstrein gestorben Im Alter von 82 Jahren. 3 December 2023. 3 December 2023. domradio.de.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Heinz Gstrein".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.