Eiffel Tower Investigation After Women Staff Replaced for Hindu Visit

Tue Sep 08 2026 15:12:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Staff at the Eiffel Tower were replaced by male colleagues during a Hindu group visit, sparking a national debate on gender equality and religious accommodation.

An investigation has been opened after staff women at the Eiffel Tower were asked to leave their positions during a visit by a Hindu religious delegation. Management complied with the group's request without scrutiny, leading to employee strikes and public condemnation. The group, BAPS, insists on separating men and women, a practice critics call discriminatory. French politicians, including the National Assembly president and Marine Le Pen, condemned the incident, while the Eiffel Tower's president vowed an internal review. BAPS released a statement apologising and reaffirming its commitment to universal respect.

An investigation has been launched in France after female staff at the Eiffel Tower were replaced by male colleagues during a visit by a Hindu religious group.

Around one hundred members of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) visited the landmark in Paris on Saturday.

Staff union representatives said women were told to vacate their duties and felt "humiliated". In response, employees went on strike on Monday to protest the decision.

BAPS follows a strict separation of men and women in all activities, including entrance to temples. Critics argue the 18th‑century origin of this practice disqualifies it from modern standards of equal treatment.

The company that operates the tower, Société d'Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE), stated the conditions imposed on female staff contradicted its values of equality. The president of the company, Ariel Weil, said the managers had acted "a bit overzealous" and that the incident was "totally shocking and unacceptable".

An internal investigation will determine who authorised the restrictions and ensure it never happens again.

In a statement on X, BAPS apologised for any pain or inconvenience caused, emphasising its commitment to mutual respect and service.

BAPS, which has temples in London, Los Angeles and Sydney, claims the segregation of genders is introduced for the benefit of women, a point many see as discriminatory.

French politicians reacted strongly. Yaël Braun‑Pivet, president of the National Assembly, refused to allow women to be compelled to step aside for foreign visitors. Marine Le Pen said France will never accept limiting women's presence. Former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal warned that no culture or belief could dictate women's place in France.