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October 14, 2006
UK: British Airways Allow Muslim Headscarf, But Not Crucifix
The story of Nadia Eweida, aged 55, is one of the most shocking signs of what is happening in a politically correct society. Employed for seven years by British Airways, and working at the check-in at Heathrow Airport, Nadia Eweida had a spotless work record. She was sent by her employers to a "Dignity at Work" diversity training session, in which the dogma of how British Airways respects people of different faiths was promoted. The following day, she was told to remove her cross, which she wears on a chain around her neck. Less than a centimeter in diameter, the cross means something to Nadia as she is a devout Christian.
British Airways allows its employees to wear the hijab, or Muslim headscarf, but her manager told her to cover the cross with a cravat or remove it. She refused. Now she has been sent home, without pay for two weeks. And naturally, Nadia feels that she is being discriminated against, and is planning to sue.
The story of Nadia's suspension was first reported yesterday by the Daily Mail, and since then, the story now appears in more than 200 news sources. Even the BBC has a video interview with Nadia, though it has not provided any text news on the subject.
News sources include News.com.au, International Herald Tribune, the Guardian, the Telegraph, News 24, News Headline News, Channel 4 News, The Sun, the Scotsman, Monsters & Critics, with updates from the Daily Mail HERE and HERE.
Nadia is not married, and for her, her faith is important. But as she said on Thursday night: "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."
A petition has been signed by 200 of her co-workers, but the issue goes to the heart of the current debate on expressions of "religious identity'. How, in a country in which three quarters of the population reported in the last census that they were Christian, are Muslim women allowed to wear their veils at British Airways, but a small cross is forbidden?
The issue began last month, when a British Airways duty manager at Heathrow airport's Terminal 4 said to Nadia, who is a Coptic Christian, that she should either conceal her cross, or remove it.
Nadia followed routine procedure. The company's uniform code states that employees must not wear visible jewellery or adornments while on duty, without written permission from management.
She accordingly applied to management for the necessary permission, but was refused.
She said: "BA refuses to recognise the wearing of a cross as a manifestation of the Christian faith, but rather defines it as a piece of decorative jewellery. I would like to say how disappointed I am in this decision and the lack of respect shown by BA towards the Christian faith. I have been badly treated. I am a loyal and hardworking employee and for seeking similar rights to other employees, I have been treated harshly by British Airways management. British Airway can be great again, but it needs to treat Chrstians fairly. I am not ashamed of my faith."
Her Member of Parliament, Vince Cable, wrote to the chief executive of British Airways, Willie Walsh. The chief of BA replied in a letter, saying that Ms Eweida had not yet been disciplined, but was not at work as she had not complied with "uniform regulations". (Wille Walsh himself had broken his own regulations by appearing at work without a tie).
Walsh's letter stated: "We have previously made changes to our uniform policy to accommodate requests, after a detailed evaluation process including Health and Safety assessment to incorporate the wearing of Sikh bangles."
There is hypocrisy in this case that defies belief. Minority faiths, such as Sikhism, are allowed to display bangles, yet a crucifix is regarded as an "adornment".
Nadia is now suing British Airways under the Employment Equality Regulations 2003 (Religion or Belief). Her union, the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) is supporting her, and for her tribunal she has hired Paul Diamond, a barrister, to represent her at her employment tribunal.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at October 14, 2006 7:21 PM
Comments
Kudos to Nadia. I am getting tired of this double standard where it comes to people of one faith being truly discriminated against in this case because she wore a cross around her neck. Crosses are disappearing and make no mistake about it. A few weeks ago a woman called into a local talk radio show and said that when her daughter attended Columbia University, the school crest featured a crown and three crosses. Well, now the three crosses are gone leaving only a crown. We are having our culture chipped away slowly and mostly without the general public knowing. I never thought I would see this day.
Posted by: pigtails not veils ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.westernresistance.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 15, 2006 12:19 AM
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