Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

UK Government Accept Wearing of Crucifix in Workplace as Lawful
The National Catholic Register ^ | 5/15/18 | KV Turley

Posted on 05/16/2018 6:10:47 PM PDT by marshmallow

The new law follows a case of religious discrimination at British Airways that began 12 years ago.

On May 13, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, the British government made a surprise announcement.

U.K. Equalities Minister Victoria Atkins has set her sights on companies who ban their staff from wearing religious items, such as crucifixes.

The new guidance, due to be published by the Government Equalities Office later this month, will clearly set out what businesses can and cannot tell their staff to wear.

New rules will state that: “Employers should be flexible and not set dress codes which prohibit religious symbols that do not interfere with an employee’s work.”

This follows a case of religious discrimination that began 12 years ago. In October 2006, Nadia Eweida, a Coptic Christian employee of British Airways, was asked to cover up the cross she wore. She refused to do so. Thereafter, she was removed from her position. Christian groups accused British Airways of double standards as non-Christian groups such as Sikhs and Muslims were not prevented from wearing religious symbols at work.

In 2008, Miss Eweida lost her case for religious discrimination at an employment tribunal. In 2010, she appealed to the Court of Appeal but lost again; the UK Supreme Court refused to hear her case. At the time, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, said: “The news that Nadia Eweida’s appeal has failed is a sad blow both to her personally, and the cause of religious liberties and freedoms.”

(Excerpt) Read more at ncregister.com ...


TOPICS: Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: britain; christian; england

1 posted on 05/16/2018 6:10:47 PM PDT by marshmallow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

And workers in some places IN ENGLAND cannot display the Cross of St.George, which is the emblem of England (and the foundational cross of the British Union Jack).


2 posted on 05/16/2018 6:14:01 PM PDT by CondorFlight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow
If they will not let you wear a crucifix wear one of these instead.


3 posted on 05/16/2018 7:26:11 PM PDT by BBell (calm down and eat your sandwiches)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow
Subsequently, Miss Eweida took her case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg where, on January 2013, it ruled in her favour.The court found that her rights had been violated under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In its judgement the court stated: 

“Ms Eweida’s cross was discreet and cannot have detracted from her professional appearance. 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.”

The European Court of Human Rights appears to be inconsistent:

On that day, at the same court, another appeal by a British Christian, who also claimed employers had violated her rights, was turned down. European judges agreed that the banning of NHS nurse Shirley Chaplin from wearing a cross at her hospital workplace was permissible. 

4 posted on 05/16/2018 7:36:55 PM PDT by ebb tide (We have a rogue curia in Rome.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

They have to if they want to protect wearing hijabs.


5 posted on 05/16/2018 8:16:57 PM PDT by jarwulf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

“Government Equalities Office” ?


6 posted on 05/17/2018 4:56:55 AM PDT by circlecity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson