Christians pave way for exerting human rights

The Equality and Human Rights Commission published a document stating that Christians, vegans, ecologists and others with deeply held beliefs should be allowed to exert their rights within the workplace after a recent case with a Christian woman appealed to the commission.

Earlier in the year, a U.K. British Airways check-in worker, Nadia Eweida, appealed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) after being sent home from work for wearing a cross that was deemed inappropriate for dress uniform. Three months later, the ECHR deemed her rights violated and supported her case. Despite Eweida’s success, there had been three other cases that were similar to Eweida’s that lost their challenges.

As of now, the ECHR’s latest document states “employees may assert the right to discuss their personal beliefs in the workplace and employers should not prevent such conversations.” The ECHR highly encourages bosses to allow those to exert their practices. This, however, is not the case for only Christians but also includes vegans, ecologists, and any other with beliefs that are “more than an opinion or a viewpoint.”

Not only are Christians being allowed the right to wear a cross while wearing their work uniform, but vegans should also be excused for cleaning refrigerators that contain any meat or dairy. Ecologists should be able to abstain from flying for business meetings that would result in the release of CO2 emissions.

While this is a success for Christians, they should also be proud for instigating respect and recognition for other human rights that were previously ignored. The Guardian recently wrote how Christianity would not be upheld higher than other human rights and how it was a stepping stone toward equality.

The Archbishop of York, Revd Dr. John Sentamu also commented on the subject, pleased with the recent ECHR’s document. “Christians and those of other faiths should be free to wear the symbols of their own religion without discrimination,” he said. “Christians are not obliged to wear a cross but should be free to show their love for and trust in Jesus Christ in this way if they so wish.”