LONDON — A European court says British Airways discriminated against a devoutly Christian airline employee by making her remove a crucifix at work.

Check-in clerk Nadia Eweida sparked a national debate in Britain over religion in public life when she was sent home in November 2006 for refusing to comply with rules banning employees from wearing visible religious symbols.

She claimed she was a victim of religious discrimination, seeking damages and compensation for lost wages.

British courts backed BA, but Eweida went to the European Court of Human Rights.

The Strasbourg, France-based court ruled Tuesday that the airline had violated her right to religious freedom. But the court ruled against three other British claimants who claimed to have suffered religious discrimination.