BA woman loses appeal over cross (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

BA woman loses appeal over cross

12:12pm Friday 24th November 2006 in

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Twickenham's MP is calling for a debate in Parliament after a British Airways employee lost an appeal over her right to wear a cross to work.

Nadia Eweida, a check-in worker at Heathrow Airport, lost her fight to wear a necklace with a visible cross over her uniform on Monday.

The Twickenham resident has been on unpaid leave since she was told she could not wear the cross openly while working, and could only come back to work if she wore it under her uniform or took a non-uniform job.

Miss Eweida said: "I am very disappointed that they have turned my request down and I have written another letter of appeal, hopefully this will be the last appeal."

She has received support from Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, who described the decision as nonsense, and from Vincent Cable, MP for Twickenham, who said he found the decision disappointing.

"I think it is a foolish and counter productive strategy which is damaging the reputation of the company and hurting my constituent," said Dr Cable.

"What is utterly baffling is that this decision, which relates to an enormously significant issue of religious freedom, is being decided by the British Airways cargo manager when on the other side of the debate you have MPs and the Archbishop of York.

"At the very least this is a decision that should be dealt with by the chief executive, establishing a little common sense and balance in the debate."

Dr Cable said he would continue to support Miss Eweida and has tabled a cross-party early day motion (EDM) on the subject.

An EDM is a motion tabled by MPs calling for a debate on a particular subject. In practice there is rarely time to debate EDMs and their true purpose is to enable MPs to draw attention to an issue and to canvas support for their views by inviting others to add their signatures in support of the motion.

Dr Cable has already received support from Labour MP Frank Field and Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, who has launched a boycott of BA.

"The motion supports her stand and is highly critical of the way BA has dealt with the matter," continued Dr Cable.

"I hope BA will change their stance but I don't see signs of flexibility. Nadia is willing to take this to the courts if necessary but I hope - even at this late stage - that BA will think more clearly and sensibly than they have to date.

"The issue is simple: BA have a relatively enlightened policy on allowing religious minorities to display their faith but for some reason they will not allow this right to be extended to Christians. This is a bizarre position."

Miss Eweida said the support from Dr Cable was wonderful and she was grateful for his help.

"I feel I have to fight this to the end," she said. "The cross is my faith as a Christian. I believe this is a Christian country and I don't want to see England or myself losing civil liberties to express my faith."

A statement from BA said staff were not barred from wearing crosses but considered it an item of jewellery that had to be worn under a uniform and other airlines had the same policy.

It continued: "The policy recognises that it is not practical for some religious symbols - such as turbans and hijabs - to be worn underneath the uniform.

"This is purely a question of practicality. There is no discrimination between faiths whatsoever.

"In Nadia Eweida's case, she is not suspended and we want her to come back to work. We have explained to her the need to comply with the uniform policy like all her colleagues, whatever their faith. She is refusing to do this.

"We have also offered her an alternative non-uniformed post, in which she would be able to wear her cross openly.

"Nadia was told that her grievance appeal against the uniform policy had been unsuccessful. We understand she intends to exercise her right to a second appeal."