ARCHBISHOP ATTACKS BA OVER CROSS BAN

She has had to live off Christian charity handouts as she battles the airline's insistence that she conceals the faith symbol that is no bigger than a five pence piece.

This is despite workers of other faiths being allowed to openly wear religious symbols such as Sikh turbans and Muslim hijabs at Heathrow.

Miss Eweida, of Twickenham, south- west London, who looks after her elderly mother, insisted that BA's offer of a non-uniformed job where she could openly wear a cross amounted to her being "penalised and punished" because of her religion.

Speaking yesterday, she said: "Is the cross really so abhorrent that I need to be kept out of sight? Is it so awful?

"It is not a piece of jewellery. I choose to wear it because I want equal opportunity to share my faith."

After losing her appeal against the decision yesterday, Miss Eweida, who insists she has worn the cross throughout the seven years she has worked for BA, has one final chance to get the decision reversed.

She said: "Life is quite difficult without my salary. But I do translation work at the Home Office and they are helping me. Because I am job-share, my salary is about £680 per month and I have not been paid since October 6. My church community are helping me which is quite embarrassing, accepting charity."

The Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu said: "The basis for the decision should not be ‘practicality', as BA suggests, but rather whether it impacts on Nadia's ability to do her job. Nadia's cross does not form an impediment to her ability at the check-in counter."

BA said: "The policy lays down that personal items of jewellery may be worn – but underneath the uniform.

"The policy recognises that it is not practical for some religious symbols – such as turbans and hijabs – to be worn underneath the uniform. This is purely a question of practicality. There is no discrimination whatsoever.

"In Nadia Eweida's case, she is not suspended and we want her to come back to work."

Devout Christian and Daily Express columnist Ann Widdecombe called for people who disapprove of the decision to boycott BA. She said: "The appalling thing is that this has been done in the teeth of public opinion."