Am I being cynical here

[Grumpmeister]

Or is this appeal more to do with money than anything else? Hijabs arent jewellery and the Bangles would have been worn under the uniform in compliance with dress code. Unlike your cross which you wore over your uniform.

A Christian has begun an appeal against a ruling that British Airways (BA) did not discriminate when it asked her to stop wearing a cross visibly at work.

Nadia Eweida, 56, from Twickenham, south-west London, wants to overturn an employment tribunal ruling that she did not suffer religious discrimination.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal heard she was sent home in September 2006 for wearing the silver cross on a chain.

BA has now changed its policy to allow religious symbols to be visibly worn.

The appeal tribunal was told that she was sent home from work after she failed to reach a compromise with managers over the visible display of a plain silver cross on a chain around her neck.

Miss Eweida, who was unpaid during this period, did not return to work until February of the following year, after the airline changed its uniform policy.

Her case centres on her claim the airline had "ruled for one minority group but not the other".

She had argued that while Muslims and Sikhs had been allowed to wear hijabs and religious Kara bangles respectively, she as a Christian was asked to remove her cross necklace or hide it from sight.

'Lost wages'

Sarah Moore, counsel for Miss Eweida, told the hearing that the policy put her and other Christians at a "particular disadvantage in comparison to the adherents of other faiths".

BA's uniform policy at the time was that personal jewellery and other items, including any item worn for religious reasons, should be concealed by uniform unless otherwise expressly permitted by the company.

The company said in a statement that the uniform policy did not discriminate against Christians.

Their spokesman added: "Our current policy allows symbols of faith to be worn openly and has been developed with multi-faith groups and our staff."

Miss Eweida, a Pentecostal Christian, currently works in customer services at Terminal 5 in Heathrow airport.

She has said she has lost around £3,500 in wages during the three months she was off work.

[Snoopy]

The litigant's name tells us all we need to know.

[Bar Wench]

I'm sort of with her on this one I'm afraid.  

[Grumpmeister]

The Hijab and turban aren't items of jewellery and the bangles can be worn under the uniform Wenchy. She chose to wear her cross over her uniform. Plus this wasnt just a single event, she repeatedly refused to compromise with the management over dress code.

[Barman]

You'd have thought they could have lost her in the move to T5... 

[Bar Wench]

The Hijab and turban aren't items of jewellery and the bangles can be worn under the uniform Wenchy. She chose to wear her cross over her uniform. Plus this wasnt just a single event, she repeatedly refused to compromise with the management over dress code.

But it isn't just an item of jewellery to religious people, it's an outer expression of their faith just as the hijab, turban etc are. Don't get me wrong I thought she took it to ridiculous levels but I can see her point.

[tel]

Ban all religions - end of story.

[The Moan Ranger]

Ban all religions - end of story.

Including the religion of Young's