The Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, today appealed to British Airways to reconsider their decision to refuse the appeal of Nadia Eweida who has lost her fight to openly wear a cross necklace at work at Heathrow.

Referring to the 'flawed reasoning' of BA's decision, which allows male Sikh staff to wear turbans and female Muslim staff to wear hijabs, the Archbishop derided BA's statement that the decision was "purely a question of practicality" suggesting that BA's explanation meant an employee turning up for work with a 'three foot cross must be allowed to wear it because to hide such a cross under their uniform would be impractical'.

The Archbishop also suggested as Britain's national airline, the company ought to consider the place of the Christian values represented by the Cross.

The Archbishop said:

'This decision by British Airways is a nonsense and is based on flawed reasoning.'

'The basis for the decision should not be 'practicality', as BA suggests in its statement, but rather whether it impacts on Nadia's ability to do her job. It is clear that Nadia's cross does not form an impediment to her ability to carry out her duties at the check in counter.

'Under BA's current reasoning, an employee who turned up to work wearing a three foot long cross must be allowed to wear it, because to hide such a cross under their uniform would be impractical. Yet in Nadia's case a cross of less than three inches is deemed a problem.'

For me, the Cross is important because it reminds me that God keeps his promises. This horrible instrument of torture now carries something other than the body of that man whom to me is a Saviour and to others is a prophet.'

'Wearing a Cross carries with it not only a symbol of our hopes but also a responsibility to act and to live as Christians. This symbol does not point only upwards but also outwards, it reminds us of our duties not only to God but also to one another.'

'British Airways needs to look again at this decision and to look at the history of the country it represents, whose culture, laws, heritage and tradition owes so much to the very same symbol it would ban.'

Notes to Editors:

The Archbishop's statement will be posted at: www.archbishopofyork.net

The Archbishop is currently unavailable for interview

Issued on behalf of the Archbishop of York's Office, from The Church of England