THE BRITISH AIRWAYS worker banned by employers from wearing a cross and chain has suffered a defeat in the Court of Appeal after judges ruled that she was not a victim of religious discrimination.
The Court of Appeal upheld the Employment Appeal Tribunal’s judgment of November 2008, which concluded that banning Nadia Eweida from wearing a cross was not discriminatory because Christians “generally” do not believe that wearing a cross is a requirement of their religious practice. Although the airline has since changed its uniform policy to permit the wearing of all religious symbols, including crosses, it does not accept that the original policy was unlawful and will not compensate Miss Eweida for the three months that she was suspended from work.
Christian campaign groups called the judgment “disappointing”.