Paris investigates claim of women being removed during Hindu delegation visit at Eiffel Tower
Paris city authorities have launched an investigation after Eiffel Tower staff reported being asked to remove female employees from their workstations during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation. The incident triggered a staff protest and monument closure, prompting apologies from management and condemnation from French political figures regarding gender equality.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between accommodating religious practices and upholding secular workplace standards in France, sparking a national debate on gender equality and public policy.
Female employees at the Eiffel Tower were asked to step out of sight during a visit by a Hindu religious delegation at the weekend, according to union representatives, prompting a staff protest and an investigation by Paris city authorities.
The monument was closed late on Monday (September 7, 2026) as employees held a meeting over the incident, which has angered staff and drawn criticism from French politicians.
On Saturday, a delegation of about 100 people linked to the Hindu group Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, or BAPS, made a private visit to the Eiffel Tower.
“As the delegation passed through, women were asked to leave their workstations so that men could take their places,” Diane Davoine, a union representative, told Reuters .
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