Egyptian BA worker wins discrimination case

An Egyptian Coptic woman has won her battle against religious discrimination at work in a landmark case at the European Court of Human Rights [ECHR] in Strasbourg. Nadia Eweida, aged 60, from south-west London but originally from Egypt hit the front-pages in 2006 after she was sent home for refusing to remove or hide her Christian cross necklace while working as a check-in clerk for British Airways [BA]. She had previously worked at the company for seven years. The incident sparked a nationwide debate about religious freedom and secularism in the UK. An employment tribunal at the time found the Coptic Christian, whose father is Egyptian, had not been subject to religious discrimination. BA reformed its uniform policy in 2007 following the media storm surrounding Eweida’s case, despite previous claims that religious imagery ran counter to its “brand image.” Ms Eweida, one of approximately 20,000 Copts living in the UK, took her case to the ECHR, claiming the actions of her employers contravened Articles nine and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibit religious discrimination and protects “freedom of thought, conscience and religion.” The Strasbourg court ruled the airline’s claim was “undoubtedly illegitimate.” "There was no evidence that the wearing of other, previously authorised, items of religious clothing, such as turbans and hijabs, by other employees had any negative impact on British Airways' brand or image,” it argued. The ruling means private companies will have to reassess how they treat employees’ rights to express religious beliefs in the workplace. Today’s result brings to an end Ms Eweida’s six-year legal battle. Speaking outside her lawyers’ chambers, she said: “I was very selfish initially when I heard the verdict because I was jumping for joy and saying ‘thank-you Jesus.’”  “I’m very happy that Christian rights have been vindicated in the UK and Europe,” she added. “It’s a vindication that Christians have a right to express their faith on par with other colleagues at work visibly and not be ashamed of their faith.”  However three other Christian claimants from the UK lost their cases in the same court session – including registrar Lillian Ladele, who was disciplined after refusing to carry out same-sex civil ceremonies.