A Nigerian nurse who was dismissed from a UK hospital for wearing a crucifix pendant, has won the case in court
Mary Onuoha, 61, had resigned after the pressure to remove her crucifix at work became overwhelming and approached a labour court for redress.
In her defence, a crucifix isn’t any different from a wedding band or pendant which her colleagues wear daily without any repercussions.
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust on the other hand, argued that she was asked to stop wearing the cross due to an infection risk.
Court proceedings have now revealed that her colleagues wore wedding bands and similar jewellery, but were never asked to stop wearing them due to ‘infection risk.’
Mary Onuoha, the ruling said, was harassed and victimised by Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, creating a “humiliating, hostile and threatening environment” for the nurse, breaching her human rights.
A representative of the Croydon Health Services NHS Trust has apologised to her.
Interestingly, the ruling concluded that this isn’t a case of racial prejudice.
It also said that this not persecution as a result of her Christian faith.
According to the tribunal, there’s no reason why plain rings, ties, hijabs and turbans were allowed but crosses were not.
