Eiffel Tower shut by staff protest after female workers moved for religious visit

The Eiffel Tower was shut on Monday after a staff protest over female workers being asked to move aside for a visit from a Hindu religious group. On Saturday, around 100 members of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) group toured the landmark in Paris. A staff union representative, Diane Davoine, reported that women were instructed to vacate their positions to accommodate men.

Management later apologized for the incident, saying it was unacceptable and a violation of the company's values of equality between men and women. The monument's operator, Société d’Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE), confirmed the group requested a visit that would minimize interactions with women, which the firm deemed inconsistent with its principles.

SETE's president, Ariel Weil, reiterated the tower's dedication to republican values and equality. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire promised an investigation into the incident, stating that equality for women would not be compromised at the monument or elsewhere in the city. French politicians, including Marine Le Pen and former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, condemned the treatment of women and emphasized that no belief or culture should dictate women's roles.