A British Airways check-in worker who was suspended for openly wearing a cross the size of a 5p piece around her neck told an employment tribunal that the company had a “culture of hostility” to Christianity.

Nadia Eweida, 56, was put on unpaid leave from her post at Heathrow in September after refusing to conceal the cross. She went back in February when the airline relaxed its rules.

British Airways’ stance caused a national outcry, with Tony Blair, John Reid and the Archbishop of Canterbury all criticising the airline. Miss Eweida, from Twickenham, southwest London, claims that she was discriminated against on the grounds of her faith and “denied equality with other religions and lifestyles supported by British Airways”.

In a statement read to the tribunal hearing at Reading she claimed “no other minority group would be treated like I was. The atmosphere in British Airways is one of hostility/suppression of Christianity and Judeo-Christian morality. No other religious group (except the Jews) would suffer as I have done for the wearing of a small cross.”

Miss Eweida claimed that the policy had changed on paper but not in reality and said her religion was not taken seriously by her employers. She said she wanted equality with other faiths who can wear their religious apparel and are “treated sympathetically.”

The tribunal heard that on one occasion Miss Eweida, who had worked for BA since 1999, was refused leave which she had requested – at late notice – to attend a church service. She didn’t go to work and was disciplined.

In 2004 she was given a written warning after colleagues complained she was “forcing” her views upon them. She denied under questioning by Ingrid Simler, QC, representing BA, that she had told a gay colleague “it was not too late to redeem himself” and that she had slapped the wrist of another for saying “thank God”.

The tribunal heard that a number of grievance and appeal hearings then took place between September and December last year while Miss Eweida was at home without pay although she was “ready and willing to work”. She was offered a nonuniformed position “out of sight” but refused to take it.

British Airways eventually amended its policy in January, allowing Miss Eweida to openly wear her cross. They said they had offered her an ex gratia payment of £8,500 and a £50,000 donation to Unicef to settle the case but she had rejected it.

The hearing continues.