Nadia Eweida to fight British Airways at Court of Appeal today (From This Is Local London)

Nadia Eweida to fight British Airways at Court of Appeal today

6:30am Tuesday 19th January 2010 in

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A devout Christian battling an airline over her right to wear a cross at work will take her case to the Court of Appeal today.

Nadia Eweida, from Strawberry Hill, was told in 2006 she could not wear the Christian symbol around her neck while working at Heathrow Airport as a check-in operator for British Airways (BA).

Miss Eweida, of Strawberry Hill Close, lost an employment tribunal but was later granted permission to take her case to the Court of Appeal and the case will begin this morning.

The airport worker, who was sent home in September 2006 and was off work without pay until February 2007, was told in September she will not be protected from the spiralling costs of her discrimination case - and had a £25,000 on costs withdrawn - but vowed to continue anyway.

Human rights organisation Liberty have supported Miss Eweida and will represent her at the hearing, being held at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Twickenham MP Vince Cable and senior MPs David Davis and John Reid are expected to turn up and offer their support.

Corinna Ferguson, legal officer for Liberty, said: “This woman's cross was as important to her as a turban or hijab to other people in our country.

“British Airways sensibly changed the policy but unfortunately didn't concede the case which has left a dangerous precedent in the case law what we intend to overturn.

“All that we are seeking for everyone in Britain is freedom of thought, conscience and religion and equal treatment under the law.”

Liberty has also conducted a poll of British Christians which reveals 86 per cent of those polled disagree with BA’s decision to ask Miss Eweida to cover up her cross and 80 per cent agree the case sets a dangerous precedent in discriminating on the basis of religion.