Europe has not yet found a middle way between secularism and state religion that combines national and religious identity, and where ethnic and religious minority groups can co-exist within a state's institutions. The government put together a list of public holidays that gave due consideration to different religious communities. And it made an effort to design national symbols (such as the flag, and the national anthem) in a way that included different communities. Political parties were divided, choosing to stand with different communities at different times but always with an eye on electoral gains. The focus must therefore be on creating a stake in democratic politics, involving different communities at different levels of institution functioning and extending avenues for equal opportunity.

Source: Huffington Post January 16, 2017 12:30 UTC