Christians Face Judgement Day In Strasbourg 'Right To Wear The Cross' Case

A senior figure in the Church of England has warned that if Christians lose a landmark case in the European Court of Human Rights this week it will amount to “clear discrimination against the Christian faith”. 

Rulings: Lilian Ladele, left, a Christian registrar who declined to conduct civil partnership ceremonies, and Nadia Eweida, who was ordered to remove her cross by BA Photo: JANE MINGAY/HEATHCLIFF O'MALLEY

Judges at Strasbourg will rule on Tuesday whether four Christians were discriminated against at work, including two women who claim they were forced out of their jobs for wearing the cross. 
The British government is fighting the cases, arguing that because crosses are not a “requirement” of the Christian faith, employers can forbid the wearing of such symbols and sack workers who insist on doing so. 

Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, the former bishop of Rochester, said ministers must move swiftly to clarify the law, as they have promised to do, if the applicants’ case is rejected under the European Convention on Human Rights. 

The four Christians have also secured the backing of Lord Carey, the former archbishop of Canterbury, who said Christians were being “persecuted” by the courts and “driven underground”. 

Lord Carey added: “The secular human rights agenda has gone too far.” 

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