Public Holidays and Equality for Muslims in Western Europe

Abstract

This article focuses on the question of what kind of approach should the liberal state take regarding religion and public holidays in multicultural societies of Western Europe. At present, these laws deny the equal status to citizens of different religious backgrounds. There are privileges that the laws bestow on citizens with Christian backgrounds, putting Muslim members in a disadvantaged position. As a result, the liberal character of the law is violated. The article analyzes how such circumstances can be avoided by fully implementing liberal neutrality where the government and its institutions—the basic structures—go along in a strictly procedural way and are separated from ideas about the good life, as proclaimed and practiced by diverse society subcultures in society. From the Western European cases, we draw conclusions on how liberal neutrality should be applied within the laws on public holidays in multicultural societies.