A Catholic nurse in the UK who was fired by the management of a UK hospital for wearing a small cross around her neck has been defended by a labor court.
In a ruling published on January 5, the British labor court declared that the hospital management's dismissal of Mary Onuoha was a "direct discrimination".
Ms. Onuoha, born in Nigeria and immigrated to the UK 34 years ago (1988), works as an employee of the National Health Service (NHS), at Croydon University Hospital, south London. She was fired in June 2020, after two years of fighting with employers over the issue of wearing a small cross around her neck.
With the support of the Christian Legal Centre, Ms. Onuoha sued the health department in Croydon before the labor court. During the hearing on October 21, 2021, the national health department argued that wearing a cross around the neck was a risk of infection, but according to the court that risk was very small, and concluded that there was no explanation. This makes sense: while other Muslims are allowed to wear head coverings such as the Islamic hijab or the Sikh turban, as part of the uniform code, while a neck brace such as signs of devotion are not allowed.”
Andrea Williams, executive director of the "Christ Law Center", welcomed the court's decision, commenting: "From the very beginning this case was linked to an attack from the top of the health service agency. national health, against the right of a devout and hardworking nurse not to wear the cross, which is a recognized and loved symbol of the Christian faith."
“It is encouraging to see the court recognize this fact. It is also surprising that an experienced nurse, during a pandemic, is forced to choose between her faith and the profession she loves.”
“From now on, every employer must think very carefully before limiting the wearing of a cross around the neck at work. You can impose restrictions on special, rational and security reasons, but you can't just apply general arguments, like "risk of infection" or "health and security".