The Eiffel Tower in Paris did not open on Monday after its employees went on strike to protest the treatment of some female colleagues during a visit by a Hindu religious group.
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The incident is linked to the visit of around 100 people from the Hindu organization Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), who had arrived at the Parisian monument on Saturday.
Diane Davoine, a representative of the employees’ union, said that some women on duty were ordered to leave their workplaces after the delegation arrived, so that men could take their positions.
“During this delegation’s visit, the women were asked to leave their workplaces to be replaced by men,” Davoine told Reuters.
According to her, the company’s management later apologized to the employees, but the episode sparked anger and tensions among the staff.
Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), which operates the tower, acknowledged that the delegation had requested that the visit take place with limited “interactions with women.”
In a statement to AFP, the company said these conditions “should not have been accepted,” as they conflict with its values and the principle of gender equality.
SETE President Ariel Weil described this practice as unacceptable. He also reaffirmed the Eiffel Tower’s commitment to French republican values and equality between men and women.
BAPS stated that the visit had been planned together with the Eiffel Tower team in the early hours of opening, with the aim of avoiding inconvenience to other visitors.
In a response on the social network X, the organization apologized for any concern or distress caused and stressed that it believes in the universal values of respect and service.
On Sunday, BAPS had inaugurated its first major temple in France, on the outskirts of Paris.
The case also sparked strong reactions on the French political scene. The mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, announced that the circumstances of the visit will be investigated.
Grégoire described the employees’ anger as legitimate and stressed that equality between women and men must be respected under all circumstances.
Other French politicians also condemned the incident, underlining that no religion or culture can decide where women should stand in French society.
Due to the staff strike, the Eiffel Tower remained closed throughout Monday.
