Eiffel Tower staff went on strike Monday following allegations that female employees were sidelined and replaced by men during a private visit by a Hindu religious group last week. Workers reported being instructed to make themselves invisible or vacate their posts to accommodate the delegation from BAPS, which was in France for a temple inauguration. The landmark's operating company, SETE, acknowledged that the group requested limited interactions with women and admitted that accepting these conditions violated the company's commitment to gender equality.
SETE president Ariel Weil condemned the practice as unacceptable, while Paris officials announced an investigation into the incident. French equality minister Aurore Berge and other political figures also criticized the event, asserting that religious dogmas cannot supersede the laws of the Republic regarding gender equality. The strike resulted in the closure of the Eiffel Tower for the day, though operations are expected to resume on Tuesday.
In response to the controversy, the BAPS organization issued an apology, stating they respect the concerns raised and take them seriously. The group maintained that the visit was coordinated with Eiffel Tower teams to minimize disruption and denied that access was intentionally denied to anyone. They emphasized their commitment to universal values of mutual respect and service to others.
