The Eiffel Tower was temporarily closed on September 7 after employees staged a protest over allegations that female staff members were asked to step aside during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation linked to BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha). Around 100 members of the group visited the iconic Paris landmark on September 5, following the inauguration of BAPS’s first major traditional Hindu temple in France. According to staff representatives, female employees were instructed to leave their workstations or remain out of sight during the delegation’s visit, with male colleagues taking their positions at some locations. Workers described the incident as humiliating and objected to what they viewed as gender-based treatment.
The Eiffel Tower’s operating company, SETE, acknowledged that the delegation had requested arrangements to limit interactions with women and admitted that the request “should not have been accepted,” saying it conflicted with the company’s values and principles of equality between men and women. The controversy triggered strong political reactions in France, with Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire calling the employees’ anger legitimate and announcing an investigation. National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet and other political leaders also criticised the reported treatment of female workers.
BAPS, meanwhile, apologised for any pain or inconvenience caused and said the visit had been organised in coordination with the Eiffel Tower team and scheduled at the beginning of normal opening hours to minimise disruption to other visitors. The organisation said it was taking the concerns seriously and maintained that it respects universal values of mutual respect and service. The dispute has now sparked a wider debate in France over gender equality, religious accommodation and the limits of cultural or religious requests in public institutions. The Eiffel Tower has since reopened after the staff protest.
