Heathrow worker's appeal over cross

Nadia Eweida, 58, from Twickenham, south-west London, is seeking to overturn a tribunal ruling in January this year which found she was not a victim of religious discrimination by the airline.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal in central London was told that she was sent home from work on September 20 2006 after she failed to reach a compromise with managers over the visible display of a plain silver cross on a chain around her neck.

The tribunal was told that 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 centred on her claim that the airline had "ruled for one minority group but not the other".

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

Sarah Moore, counsel for Miss Eweida, told the Employment Appeal Tribunal hearing that the uniform policy at the time which prevented Miss Eweida from visibly displaying her cross put her and Christians at a "particular disadvantage" in comparison to the adherents of other faiths.

The tribunal was told that the 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 British Airways.

The policy has since been changed.

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.