Both France and Singapore are multi-religious and secular societies. Government institutions are separate from religious institutions, and people of different faiths are equal before the law. While individuals of varied faiths have the licence to practice their own religion, Singapore has laws that allow the state to step in if any acts are found to threaten religious or racial harmony. In France, secular traditions are enforceable by law.
As trends in globalisation and modernity result in countries becoming more ethnically – and religiously – diverse and complex, how can countries guarantee its citizens the freedom to choose and practice their own faith while also combating exclusivism?