Singled out: Nadia Eweida, who was suspended from her job with British Airways after refusing to remove her cross
The Government’s equalities watchdog has hit out at politically correct public bodies and employers who victimise Christians because they fear offending others.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is to publish a major new report next week, seen by The Mail on Sunday, criticising overzealous organisations that unnecessarily drop references to Christmas or discipline believers who wear crosses at work.
The report, which highlights a string of cases first exposed by this newspaper, will:
- Admonish the UK’s biggest cinema chains for banning a Church of England advertisement promoting the Lord’s Prayer, and suggest legal action over the case could follow;
- Support Nadia Eweida, a Christian check-in staff member at British Airways who was suspended for refusing to remove a cross on a chain;
- Criticise housing association bosses who used ‘diversity’ policies to demote a Christian staff member for mild comments about gay marriage on his Facebook page;
- Deride Government departments and town halls that have airbrushed ‘Christmas’ out of seasonal greeting cards or celebrations to avoid upsetting people of other beliefs.
The report follows a series of cases in which Christians have clashed with employers over their rights to express their religious beliefs.
But to the fury of Christian campaigners, the Commission falls short of calling for reform of the controversial Equalities Act 2010 it was set up to police, which bans discrimination against minority groups including religious believers.
The Christian Institute said: ‘When the EHRC has to remind employers that it’s OK to celebrate Christmas, it shows how damaging the influence of the equality industry has been.
'No one needs to remind employers that it’s OK to celebrate gay pride. But celebrating Christmas? Apparently that’s dodgy ground. It’s crazy.’
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