This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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A British Airways employee, Nadia Eweida, who was sent home for wearing a cross with uniform, has won the legal battle in the European court over her right to wear cross at work.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that Ms. Eweida, 60, a Coptic Christian, had been discriminated against her freedom of religion rights at workplace.
But three other Christian claimants, who launched similar legal challenge against not giving them the permission to wear a cross at work, lost their cases in Britain after being refused the right to wear a cross as a symbol of their faith under their employers’ uniform policy.
Miss Eweida, 60, took her case against the U.K. government to the ECHR after she was sent home for wearing a small silver cross around her neck in 2006 in breach of BA uniform codes.
Last year, in a hearing in Strasbourg, the U.K. Government had argued that this was not a breach of their human rights and wearing a cross is not an essential principle of Christianity.
But in case of Ms. Eweida, the court’s verdict said that manifesting religion is a “fundamental right”.
Ms. Eweida was “jumping for joy” at the ruling with pleasure that court recognised the “anxiety, frustration and distress” she suffered and said: “I’m very happy and very pleased that Christian rights have been vindicated in the UK and Europe.”
The British government has been ordered to pay her £1,600 in damages and £25,000 to cover costs.
Prime Minister David Cameron has said in a tweet: “Delighted that principle of wearing religious symbols at work has been upheld – people shouldn’t suffer discrimination due to religious beliefs.”
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