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Nadia EweidaA British Airways employee seeking the right to wear a cross.
Country:
 Great Britain |
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Nadia Eweida: The British Airways employee fighting for her right to wear a cross
Nadia Eweida is a 55-year-old employee of British Airways (BA) who resides in the London suburb of Twickenham. As the daughter of an Egyptian father and an English mother, Eweida follows the Coptic Christian faith. Her story has garnered significant attention in British society.
The ban on wearing a cross
In October 2006 (according to other sources, in September), a duty manager at Terminal 4 of Heathrow Airport, where Eweida works, prohibited her from openly wearing a small cross. The decision was justified by BA's corporate policy that forbids employees from wearing jewelry at work. However, exceptions were made for Muslims and Sikhs, allowing them to wear hijabs and turbans, respectively. Eweida believed that the company's policy discriminated against Christians and argued that the cross was not merely an accessory but an essential religious symbol for her.
Legal battle and public support
The BA administration disagreed with Eweida's arguments and placed her on unpaid leave. In response, she filed a lawsuit against her employer under legislation concerning equal employment opportunities. The initial court hearing ruled in favor of BA, deeming their decision lawful. Nevertheless, Eweida refused to compromise and continued to fight for the right to openly wear her cross on a necklace.
Fearing a mass boycott, BA ultimately decided to allow religious symbols in the form of badges on their uniforms. However, Eweida rejected another proposal from the company, which suggested that she could openly wear a cross but would have to work in a role hidden from passengers' view.
Eweida received support from the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU), 200 of her colleagues who signed a petition in her defense, Christian organizations, and 94 members of the British Parliament, including the Speaker of the House of Commons, Jack Straw. The decision made by BA was criticized by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, who hold the highest positions in the hierarchy of the Anglican Church. Two members of the British government, Peter Hain, the Minister for Northern Ireland Affairs, and Ben Bradshaw, the Minister for Environment, announced a boycott of BA. Prime Minister Tony Blair conveyed his disapproval of the company's decision to Martin Broughton, the Chairman of BA's board of directors.
