A Strasbourg court ruled that a British airline had no right to punish an employee for wearing a cross. Nadia Eweida's litigation with British Airways lasted six years. Experts note that airlines usually prohibit employees from wearing flashy jewelry, but this does not apply to crosses and wedding rings.

An employee of British Airways defended the right to wear a cross. The European Court of Human Rights upheld Nadia Eweida's claim. According to the British publication The Guardian, the court ordered the carrier to pay €2 thousand as compensation. The Christian woman’s lawsuit with her employer lasted more than six years, reported Kommersant FM’s own correspondent in the UK, Andrei Ostalsky.

“From the point of view of the Strasbourg court, Britain violated Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights on the impossibility of religious discrimination, directly or indirectly. It was decided that Nadia Eweida had the right to wear a cross. And not just wear it, but wear it so that it was visible.

The dispute was already, rather, of a theoretically fundamental nature. The British Airways company itself changed its policy a long time ago, several years ago, Nadya is now allowed to wear this cross. But the question was, firstly, of principle - case law is very important here. And, secondly, there is a money issue, because Nadya was deprived of work for several months while the litigation lasted from 2006. And British Airways still hasn’t paid her any money for this,” says Ostalsky.

Airlines have strict dress codes. They pay special attention to the appearance of flight attendants, noted Anastasia Miroshnichenko, general director of the Aviapersonal company.

“Jewelry is minimal: only those that are used as part of the uniform, these can be badges with airline logos and watches, but again unnoticeable. Even rings in most cases, flight attendants try not to use, or they are extremely inconspicuous, in the form of a wedding ring. The less jewelry, so much the better. Even if we talk about neck jewelry, almost no one uses them, because most airlines use neck scarves. I have never heard of a ban on wearing crosses on the neck, but if it is something very bright, then. They will definitely make a remark,” says Miroshnichenko.

Simultaneously with Nadia Eweida's appeal, the Strasbourg court considered three more complaints from Christians about discrimination by the UK. However, they were rejected.

One of the lawsuits was filed by nurse Shirley Chaplin, who was ordered by her superiors to hide the crucifix under her clothes for safety and hygiene reasons. Because of her refusal to do so, she was transferred to a desk job.

The second claim was brought by marriage registrar Lilian Ladel, who was disciplined after refusing to perform same-sex civil union ceremonies.

Finally, the third claim was filed on behalf of marriage and family counselor Gary McFarlane. He was fired after he said he might refuse to give same-sex couples advice about their sexual problems.

Despite the ban on crosses, British Airways has not previously discouraged the wearing of turbans and hijabs.

Albina Khazeeva

"First of all, it was a matter of principle"