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A DEVOUT Christian lost her appeal yesterday after being banned from wearing a cross visibly at work.

Three judges cleared British Airways of discrimination by stopping Nadia Eweida, 58, from wearing the crucifix.

The appeal court ruling backed an earlier employment appeal tribunal decision that she was not a victim of indirect religious discrimination.

The case came about after BA introduced a new uniform with an open neck in 2004.

The airline banned the wearing of any visible item of adornment around the neck.

But check-in worker Nadia still wore her cross and was suspended in September 2006.

After a public outctry BA decided to lift the ban.

Nadia, from Twickenham in London, took BA to a tribunal seeking £120,000 in damages and lost wages - but the tribunal ruled banning a crucifix was not discriminatory because Christians "generally" do not consider wearing a cross as a requirement of their religion.

Nadia, backed by civil rights group Liberty, now intends to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Corinna Ferguson,Liberty's legal officer, said: "This is a disappointing judgment that will do little to build public confidence in equality laws."