British Airways Suspends Christian for Refusing to Remove Cross Necklace
A British airways employee has been suspended from work for refusing to remove a Christian crucifix necklace.
by Daniel Blake
Posted: Monday, October 16, 2006, 7:02 (BST)
A British airways employee has been suspended from work for refusing to remove a Christian crucifix necklace.
Nadia Eweida, a check-in worker at London's Heathrow Airport, told the Daily Mail newspaper that she was suing the airline for religious discrimination after being sent home for breaching BA's dress code.
The suspended worker was reported as saying: "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."
British Airways has commented that its company policy states that employees must wear jewellery under their uniforms, and it explicitly states that this includes religious symbols.
In a statement, the airline said, "This rule applies for all jewellery and religious symbols on chains and is not specific to the cross."
"Other items such as turbans, hijabs and bangles can be worn as it is not practical for staff to conceal them beneath their uniforms."
Liberal Democrat lawmaker Vincent Cable, who represents Twickenham in west London, said it was "absolutely mind-boggling that Britain's flag-carrying airline could treat its employees in such a disgraceful and petty manner."
"Nadia is a devout Christian who was displaying her faith, but in a modest and totally un-provocative manner," he said.
"It is absolutely right that other religious minorities be allowed exemption from the dress code, but why can't a Christian be treated in the same way?"
Religious symbols and dress have been a hot topic of debate in Britain this week after Foreign Secretary Jack Straw sparked controversy on the issue and a Muslim school teacher was suspended after refusing to take off her veil while conducting her English language classes.
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Added: Monday, October 16, 2006, 18:55 (BST)
The decision to suspend a Christian by British Airways is completely outrageous. Firstly, for the obvious reason that other faiths have been given the permission to dress according to their faiths.
However, I was glad that BA took notice of Nadia's tiny cross, this shows that they can't stand the power of the cross; and the awesomeness of God is too much for them to bear; even though they might not grasp this. We need to keep praying that God would help us guard our freedom because we (Christians) are being taken advantage of because we don't retaliate in aggressive ways.
Jesus (in Matthew 24) kept repeating "stay awake,...be aware", so we really have to be aware of what's happening around us. I'm 18, but my passion for God is so immense, and I believe that these are the days we should be completely awake.
Rue Chigumbu, Basingstoke, United Kingdom
Added: Monday, October 16, 2006, 14:08 (BST)
For all the years I've attended chuch, we were taught that your faith doesn't need to be paraded or flaunted. When we received our crosses at church we were firmly told that they do not need to be worn on the outside and that it was purely to remind ourselves of our faith and what we believe in. Although crosses are sometimes worn as fashion statements, there should be no reason why the wearer can't wear it underneath their clothes, as we did in school. Afterall, it is your faith what counts and what you believe in and how you live out your daily life, not what material items you own. Yes, you should be proud of your religion, but you shouldn't be feeling like you need to prove it to everyone else as that makes it sound like you have doubts yourself.
A. Smith, UK
