Airline prohibits employee from wearing cross

Airline prohibits employee from wearing cross
British Airways allows Muslim headscarves, but not Christian symbols

British Airways has banned a Christian woman from wearing a cross on a necklace to work, a British newspaper reports.

The Daily Mail reports that Heathrow check-in worker Nadia Eweida, who is a Coptic Christian and whose father is Egyptian and mother English, was sent home after refusing to remove the crucifix that breached British Airways' dress code.

The move has been criticized by Christian groups and Eweida's member of parliament, Vince Cable.

The Mail says Eweida, who has an unblemished record during seven years at BA, is suing her employer for religious discrimination after being suspended from work without pay for two weeks.

Eweida, 55, from Twickenham, told the paper: "I will not hide my belief in the Lord Jesus. British Airways permits Muslims to wear a headscarf, Sikhs to wear a turban and other faiths religious apparel.

"Only Christians are forbidden to express their faith. I am a loyal and conscientious employee of British Airways, but I stand up for the rights of all citizens."

The Mail says she was ordered to remove her cross or hide it beneath a company cravat by a duty manager at Heathrow's Terminal 4 last month.

She then sought permission from management to wear the chain – but was turned down.

A British Airways spokeswoman confirmed a case was ongoing but said it would be "inappropriate to discuss it in detail."