Christian BA employee loses appeal in cross wearing case

London, Feb. 13 (ANI): A Christian British Airways (BA) employee has lost her appeal in a "discrimination" case against the airline, which stopped her from wearing a cross visibly at work. adia Eweida, 58, from southwest London, had appealed to three judges to overturn a decision by the Employment Appeal Tribunal that she was not a victim of indirect religion or belief discrimination.

"This case has perhaps illustrated some of the problems which can arise when an individual asserts that a provision, criterion or practice adopted by an employer conflicts with beliefs which they hold but which may not only not be shared but may be opposed by others in the workforce," The Independent quoted Lord Justice Sedley, as sayig.

"It is not unthinkable that a blanket ban may sometimes be the only fair solution," he added.

Eweida, who worked part-time as a member of check-in staff since 1999, made complaints about incidents between 2003 and 2006 which she claimed showed anti-Christian bias on the part of BA.

The airline scrapped a high-necked uniform and introduced a new one in 2004, which could be open neck and prohibited the wearing of any visible item of adornment around the neck.

On at least three occasions, she came to work with the cross visible under her uniform but concealed it when asked to do so.

But when she refused to cover up the cross, she was sent home and remained there unpaid from September 2006 to the following February.

Lord Justice Sedley said: "A storm of media attention, much of it hostile to the respondent, led the respondent to reconsider its uniform policy and to introduce an amended policy in 2007 which permitted staff to display a faith or charity symbol with the uniform."

Eweida, who is backed by human rights group Liberty, returned to work after the policy change but claimed she was due around 120,000 pounds in damages and lost wages.(ANI)