PARIS — Visitors arriving at Paris’s most famous landmark were greeted by closed gates on Monday after staff at the Eiffel Tower staged an emergency walkout. The strike followed explosive allegations that female employees were instructed to leave their posts and stay out of sight during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation over the weekend.

The incident occurred during a visit by roughly 100 individuals associated with the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) group, who were in France to celebrate the opening of a new temple near Paris.

According to trade union representatives, management accommodated a specific request from the group to restrict interaction with female staff. As the delegation passed through, several female workers were directed to vacate their workstations and move to secondary areas, while male colleagues were brought in to take their places.

"During the visit of this delegation, women were asked to leave their places of work in order to place men there," trade union representative Diane Davoine told news agency Reuters. She added that the instructions left female staff feeling humiliated and sparked intense anger among employees over the weekend, prompting Monday's strike to demand accountability and guarantees that such actions would never be repeated.

Management Acknowledges Error

Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), the operating company behind the landmark, confirmed that the visiting group had requested to limit interactions with women. In a statement, SETE management admitted that accepting these conditions was a severe mistake that ran counter to the company’s principles.

SETE President Ariel Weil addressed the controversy directly, declaring the practice entirely unacceptable. He reaffirmed the landmark's dedication to gender equality and republican values, confirming that an internal inquiry was underway to determine how the request was approved in the first place.

Apology from Delegation

Following the public uproar, the BAPS Hindu temple in Paris issued an official apology, stating that it takes the concerns very seriously.

The organization clarified that the arrangements had been coordinated in advance with the Eiffel Tower’s operational team to prevent overcrowding and ensure smooth entry. BAPS officials stated they were unaware that any employees had been displaced or restricted, expressing regret for any hurt or disruption caused and reiterating their commitment to mutual respect.

Swift Political Backlash

The controversy quickly reached the highest levels of French politics, drawing condemnation across the spectrum:

  • Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire voiced strong support for the striking workers, ordering an immediate investigation into the management's actions. "Equality between women and men will never stop at the foot of our historical monuments," he wrote on social media, describing the concession as unacceptable.

  • National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet strongly rejected the decision, stating on X: "I refuse to accept that women should be told to step aside to meet the demands of foreign visitors. Welcoming others never means giving up our values."

  • French Equality Minister Aurore Bergé and former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal both emphasized that no religious or cultural beliefs can override French laws and values regarding gender equality.

The Eiffel Tower operator confirmed that dialogue with staff unions remains ongoing as management works to restore normal operations while addressing employee grievances.