Paris: The Eiffel Tower was closed on September 7 after employees went on strike following an incident during a visit by a Hindu religious delegation, in which female workers were reportedly asked to leave their positions.
Around 100 people linked to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) visited the Paris landmark. According to staff representatives, women working at the Eiffel Tower were asked to move away from their posts as the delegation arrived.
Diane Davoine, a staff union representative, said the incident angered employees, particularly female workers who felt humiliated by how they were treated. Diane Davoine said tensions increased over the weekend before employees decided to meet with management to demand dialogue and assurances that such an incident would not happen again.
Je prends connaissance du mouvement de colère des salarié·es de la tour Eiffel et je veux leur dire que leur mécontentement est légitime.
Il n’est pas acceptable que de telles conditions puissent être tolérées. Ce ne sont ni mes valeurs, ni celles que doit porter la tour Eiffel,… https://t.co/3srttJpxPo
— Emmanuel Grégoire (@egregoire) September 7, 2026
The Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), which operates the Eiffel Tower, confirmed that the delegation had requested arrangements intended to limit interactions with women during the visit. The company acknowledged that such conditions should not have been accepted.
SETE president Ariel Weil said the practice was clearly not an acceptable practice and reaffirmed the Eiffel Tower’s commitment to equality between women and men and France’s republican values.
The BAPS temple in Paris said the visit had been arranged with the Eiffel Tower team at the start of normal opening hours to minimise disruption to other visitors. In a statement posted on X, the organisation apologised for any pain or inconvenience caused and said it believed in the values of mutual respect and service.
The controversy comes shortly after BAPS consecrated its first major temple in France in the Paris suburbs. The organisation describes itself as a spiritual and volunteer-driven fellowship based on Hindu values, with temples in several major cities worldwide.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said an investigation would be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the visit. He also expressed support for the Eiffel Tower employees, stressing that equality between women and men must apply everywhere in the city.
The incident has also drawn reactions from French political figures. Hard-right leader Marine Le Pen said France would not accept restrictions on the presence of women, while former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said no culture, belief or religious practice should dictate women’s place in France.
National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet also criticised the incident, saying women should not be required to step aside to accommodate the demands of foreign visitors.
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