London, UK - A BMI air stewardess was sacked for refusing to wear a traditional Islamic robe and walk behind male colleagues when travelling to Saudi Arabia.
Lisa Ashton, 37, was told that she had to wear a black robe, known as an abaya, which covers everything but the face, feet and hands, when out in public areas.
She was also instructed by the airline to follow her male colleagues, irrespective of their rank.
But Miss Ashton, who earned £15,000-a-year, refused to fly to Saudi Arabia, claiming the requirements were discriminatory and that she considered the country to be unsafe to travel to because of the risk of terrorist attacks.
'It’s not the law that you have to walk behind men in Saudi Arabia, or that you have to wear an abaya, and I’m not going to be treated as a second-class citizen,' she said.
'It’s outrageous. I’m a proud Englishwoman and I don’t want these restrictions placed on myself.'
Miss Ashton had been working for BMI on long-haul flights for nine years when she was told in the summer of 2005 that she would be expected to work on the airline's new service to Saudi Arabia.
However, at the time the Foreign Office was advising visitors of a 'threat of terrorism' in the country.
Miss Ashton decided against travelling there and was offended by the regulations BMI set out for staff working in the area.
A document BMI sent to its staff read: 'It is expected that female crew members will walk behind their male counterparts in public areas such as airports no matter what rank.'
Miss Ashton was offered a transfer to short-haul flights with a 20 per cent salary cut, which she refused.
For some time she was then allowed to continue flying to her normal destinations of India, the Caribbean and the US, but in June 2007 she was told she was on the rota to fly from London to Saudi Arabia.
When Miss Ashton refused to fly she was dismissed.
An employment tribunal in Manchester earlier this year cleared BMI of sexual discrimination, ruling it was justified in imposing 'rules of a different culture' on staff.
It ruled there was no evidence that women would regard BMI's requirements on wearing an abaya or that walking behind men would 'place them under any disadvantage'.
But Miss Ashton has since consulted human rights organisation Liberty and may now seek a judicial review of the tribunal decision.
It is not the law to wear an abaya in Saudi Arabia, although many western women do, and many Saudi expats say it is a 'myth' that women must walk behind men.
Miss Ashton is now following a music career and said one of her songs - Shame, Shame, Shame - was inspired by her experiences with BMI.