A politician from the nationalist Alternative for Germany party (AfD) who shocked colleagues by converting to Islam says he did so because he was unhappy with the church’s acceptance of gay marriage.

Arthur Wagner made headlines around the world last week after it emerged that he had become a Muslim.

The AfD, which last year became the first nationalist party to win seats in the German parliament since the sixties, campaigns on an openly anti-Muslim platform. One of its elections slogans was “Islam has no place in Germany.”

But to the dismay of party colleagues, Mr Wagner now says he wants to remain in the party and build bridges with between German Muslims and mainstream society.

The 48-year-old, who has changed his name to Ahmad, initially refused to comment when his conversion became public last week.

But he came forward in an interview to explain his decision in an interview with Bild newspaper.