Calls to reclaim the cross in the UK
The director of an organisation that serves the suffering Church says the case of British Airways’ worker Nadia Eweida who was forbidden to wear a cross is “an example of discrimination against the Christian faith”.Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, said the time had come for Christians to “stand up for what they believe, to stand with Nadia in her desire that the cross should not be hidden”.
He added, “Many Christians have unwittingly fallen prey to the gradual neutralisation of the Christian faith. If the most basic symbol of Christianity is to be removed from public life, if the cross is to be viewed as mere jewellery, then the Christian faith will have become invisible in the UK.”
Nadia Eweida lost an internal appeal against British Airways, who said she could not wear a small silver cross visibly around her neck while working in her check-in job at Heathrow Airport.
“I have known Nadia for some years, and Barnabas Fund has supported her spiritually, emotionally and financially through her current ordeal,” said Dr Sookhdeo.
“Nadia’s case is an example of the discrimination which now exists in the UK against the Christian faith,. While British Airways allows Muslim check-in staff to wear the hijab. which is not obligatory for Muslims, it forbids the public display of a Christian cross.
“BA’s argument is that they would prefer all religious symbols to be concealed by their uniformed staff, but only the cross is small enough for this to be practical.”
He said that as Nadia has pointed out, British Airways had previously adapted their uniform regulations to allow the Islamic hijab and the Sikh turban and bangle. “Why can they not now amend them again to allow Christians to wear crosses?” he asked.
“Just because the Christian symbol is modest and discreet, why should it have to be concealed, if followers of other faiths can publicly wear their more ostentatious symbols?”
Dr Sookdheo is appealing for Christians to contact British Airways to ask them to change their uniform policy so that it no longer discriminates against Christians.
“Ask them either to allow the Christian cross to be worn publicly or to ban the wearing of faith symbols of any kind publicly,” he said.
“I fully realise that some Christians will reject this call on the basis that wearing the cross is not commanded either by the Bible or by Church traditions. However, in countries like Egypt, where Nadia’s roots are, the wearing of the cross speaks of loyalty to the Lord Jesus and faith in the risen Christ.
“For her, and for millions of other Christians in Egypt and other non-western contexts, the words of Jesus to his disciples in Matthew 16:24 are to be taken in a literal as well as a spiritual way: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’.
“Wearing the cross is a means of identifying publicly with Christ, no matter if it brings shame and persecution.”
Meanwhile, the Evangelical Alliance, which represents Christians across the UK, has also called on British Airways to re-examine its uniform policy.
The Public Policy Director of the Evangelical Alliance, Dr R David Muir, said: “The wearing of the cross is very important to Nadia, and everyone has a right to express their faith in an appropriate way. BA's uniform policy has exemptions for items such as turbans and veils, which reflect the belief of those following other religions.
“The case presents a timely opportunity for BA to re-examine its uniform policy in the light of the current debate about religion, freedom of expression, and appropriate dress.
He added, “BA's current position is in danger of appearing insensitive, disrespectful and discriminatory against Christians, reinforcing the idea that Christians are entitled to wear cherished symbols of their faith so long as they are kept out of sight. This is clearly unacceptable.
“The message and the metaphor in BA’s current policy signals its marginalisation of Christianity in its treatment of different faith groups. We hope that common sense will prevail in the resolution of this matter.”
Write to: Martin Broughton, Chairman or Willie Walsh, Chief Executive, British Airways plc, Waterside, PO Box 365, Harmondsworth UB7 0GB or email company.secretary@britishairways.com
