An investigation is underway in France after female employees at the Eiffel Tower were temporarily reassigned during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation, according to statements from municipal officials and labor representatives. The incident triggered a staff strike and the temporary closure of the landmark.
According to Eiffel Tower staff union representative Diane Davoine, speaking to Reuters, a group of approximately 100 people associated with the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Hindu group visited the monument on Saturday. Davoine stated that female employees were asked to leave their posts and replaced by male staff members during the visit.
Management Response and Union Demands
The Société d’Exploitation de la tour Eiffel, the company that operates the monument, confirmed to the Agence France-Presse that the BAPS delegation requested limited interactions with women during their visit. Management acknowledged that these conditions should not have been accepted and issued apologies to affected staff.
The operational decision prompted workers to walk off the job on Monday, forcing the closure of the Paris landmark. Davoine noted that tensions rose over the weekend, leading employees to meet with management to open a dialogue and demand assurances that female staff will not face similar treatment in the future.
Political Condemnation Across the French Government
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire wrote on X that the employees’ dissatisfaction is legitimate, adding that an investigation would launch as quickly as possible. Grégoire stated that gender equality will never stop at the foot of historic monuments or anywhere else in the city.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal also addressed the incident on X, writing that in France, no culture, belief, or worship can dictate to women their place. Minister for Gender Equality Aurore Bergé called the situation unacceptable, emphasizing that no religion is above French law. Marine Le Pen similarly stated that France will not accept the presence of women being limited.
BAPS Delegation and Paris Temple Inauguration
The BAPS delegation traveled to Paris as part of a two-week celebration for the inauguration of the group’s first branch in France. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared via video link on Sunday to inaugurate the new temple, calling it a milestone in cultural relations between India and France.
In a statement posted to X, the French BAPS branch apologized for any pain or inconvenience caused, stating that to the best of their knowledge, no one was prevented access to the Eiffel Tower. BAPS sadhus, or monks, take vows of celibacy and are prohibited from contact with women, though this restriction applies to monks rather than all followers of the faith.