The Eiffel Tower was temporarily shut on Monday after staff staged a walkout over allegations that female employees were asked to leave their workstations or avoid certain areas during a private visit by a delegation linked to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). The incident has triggered a major backlash in France, with several political leaders condemning the reported treatment of women.
Around 100 people associated with BAPS visited the Eiffel Tower on Saturday, September 5, during a visit linked to events surrounding the inauguration of the organisation's first major Hindu temple in France. According to staff representatives, some female employees were allegedly asked to leave their posts while the delegation passed through, with male employees taking their places in some areas.
Diane Davoine, a staff union representative, said women were asked to leave their places of work so that men could replace them. She claimed that some female workers were asked to move to other areas and avoid specific parts of the tower while the delegation was present. The employees reportedly felt humiliated by the instructions.
The company operating the Eiffel Tower, Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), acknowledged that the delegation had requested arrangements to limit "interactions with women". SETE president Ariel Weil said the conditions should not have been accepted and stressed the monument's commitment to equality between men and women.
Amid the backlash, BAPS has denied that anyone was denied access to the Eiffel Tower and said the visit had been coordinated in advance with the monument's management.
In a statement, the BAPS Hindu temple in Paris said the visit was organised with the Eiffel Tower teams during normal opening hours, with the aim of limiting disruption because of the size of the delegation.
"To our knowledge, at no time was access to the Eiffel Tower denied to anyone," BAPS said. The organisation, however, offered its "sincere apologies" to anyone who may have been hurt or inconvenienced by the situation and said it takes the concerns raised "very seriously".
BAPS also said it was deeply committed to "the universal values of mutual respect and service to others".
Eiffel Tower staff protest
The controversy led to a staff walkout on Monday, temporarily disrupting operations at the iconic Paris landmark. Employees demanded dialogue with management and assurances that female workers would not be treated in a similar manner again.
SETE later acknowledged that the conditions accepted for the delegation's visit were not acceptable. Weil said the company would investigate what happened and draw the necessary conclusions.
French leaders react
The incident has drawn strong reactions from across France's political spectrum.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said the employees' anger was legitimate and announced that an investigation would be launched into the circumstances surrounding the visit. He stressed that equality between women and men must apply everywhere, including at France's historic monuments.
Former French prime minister and 2027 presidential contender Gabriel Attal also condemned the reported incident, saying that no culture, belief or religion should dictate a woman's place in France.
Far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen said France would never accept restrictions on the presence of women, while National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet said she would not accept women being asked to step aside to meet the demands of foreign visitors.
The controversy comes shortly after BAPS inaugurated its first major Hindu temple in France near Paris. The temple inauguration was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.
Around 100 people associated with BAPS visited the Eiffel Tower on Saturday, September 5, during a visit linked to events surrounding the inauguration of the organisation's first major Hindu temple in France. According to staff representatives, some female employees were allegedly asked to leave their posts while the delegation passed through, with male employees taking their places in some areas.
Diane Davoine, a staff union representative, said women were asked to leave their places of work so that men could replace them. She claimed that some female workers were asked to move to other areas and avoid specific parts of the tower while the delegation was present. The employees reportedly felt humiliated by the instructions.
The company operating the Eiffel Tower, Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), acknowledged that the delegation had requested arrangements to limit "interactions with women". SETE president Ariel Weil said the conditions should not have been accepted and stressed the monument's commitment to equality between men and women.
BAPS issues clarification
Amid the backlash, BAPS has denied that anyone was denied access to the Eiffel Tower and said the visit had been coordinated in advance with the monument's management.
In a statement, the BAPS Hindu temple in Paris said the visit was organised with the Eiffel Tower teams during normal opening hours, with the aim of limiting disruption because of the size of the delegation.
"To our knowledge, at no time was access to the Eiffel Tower denied to anyone," BAPS said. The organisation, however, offered its "sincere apologies" to anyone who may have been hurt or inconvenienced by the situation and said it takes the concerns raised "very seriously".
BAPS also said it was deeply committed to "the universal values of mutual respect and service to others".
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