ISLAMABAD – A long-time member of the nationalist Alternative for Germanyparty has resigned his post on its regional leadership after converting toIslam.

The party, known by its German acronym AfD, has campaigned against what itconsiders the “Islamization” of Germany because of immigration and higherbirth rates among the country’s Muslim population.

A spokesman for AfD’s chapter in the eastern state of Brandenburg confirmedWednesday that Arthur Wagner left the party’s regional board two weeks agofor “personal reasons.”

In an email, spokesman Daniel Friese said it was only after Wagner’sresignation that the party learned of his conversion.

Berlin daily Tagesspiegel reported Wednesday that Wagner, who joined AfDshortly after it was founded in 2013, has in the past been active in agroup assisting refugees.