January 15, 2008
A bad decision made in London's not-so-friendly skies could affect religious freedom in America. British Airways permits employees who observe the Muslim faith to wear the Hijab and Jibil, employees who observe Sikhism to wear turbans, and Hindu employees to wear religious bracelets, headscarves, and red dots on their head as public, outward expressions of their religion. However, in October, 2006, when employee Nadia Eweida, a Christian, publicly wore a small cross on a necklace, she was ordered to conceal it. When Nadia refused to do so, she was suspended.
On Tuesday, January 8, of this year, a London court ruled that the discrimination could continue, saying the airline was within its rights to prohibit Nadia from outwardly wearing the cross, to let it show in public. Ironically, the court concluded that other types of religious symbols – such as turbans, bangles, and other religious markings – cannot be concealed, and are therefore acceptable.
"Christian employees should not be singled out for such discrimination," says ADF Chief Counsel Benjamin Bull. "According to British Airways, it's okay for employees to wear a symbol of their faith unless it's a Christian cross. The airline took no action against employees of other religions who publicly wore jewelry or symbols of their religion while at work. This case should be of particular interest to the American customers of British Airways who understand and value religious liberty."
In recent years, foreign court decisions limiting religious freedom have shown an alarming propensity for showing up in American judicial opinions. The American Civil Liberties Union and its allies have made no secret of their desire to use "international law" to advance their legal and cultural agenda in our country. When the U.S. Constitution does not accommodate their radical demands, these groups work to pick and choose from what foreign courts have done to weave more "sympathetic" foreign court decisions into the legal fabric of this nation. In this way, they fabricate legal "rights" our Founding Fathers never intended or could have conceived.
Because of this threat to American law, an ADF allied-attorney in the United Kingdom is considering an appeal as he works to restore Nadia's rights. Please continue to pray for this case and others, as we endeavor to establish a strong defense for religious liberty in America.