Eiffel Tower Workers Strike Over Removal of Women During Hindu Religious Group’s Private Visit
Mian Nadeem | Published September 08, 2026 | 10:54 PM
Employees closed the Eiffel Tower on Monday over alleged gender discrimination, ending their strike after an investigation was promised and sparking a fresh political debate in France.
Paris (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 8th Sep, 2026)
Employees at the Eiffel Tower in the French capital, Paris, went on strike to protest the removal of female staff from certain areas and their replacement by male employees during a private visit by a Hindu religious group.
According to a French broadcaster, around 100 people from the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha visited the Eiffel Tower privately. In a statement, employees said female workers were instructed to leave their duties and remain out of sight when the delegation arrived. Some women were reportedly asked to move to other locations, while male employees replaced them in certain areas. The statement added that female staff were also prevented from passing through or crossing designated areas while the delegation was present.
The employees strongly objected to the instructions, saying pushing women back, replacing them, and keeping them out of sight on the basis of gender was unacceptable.
The company operating the Eiffel Tower confirmed that the Hindu delegation had requested arrangements limiting interaction with women during the visit. The company acknowledged that such conditions should not have been accepted, stating they were incompatible with its values and the principle of equality between men and women, and that management was prepared to accept the consequences.
Ariel Weil, president of the Eiffel Tower and a Socialist official in Paris, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that restricting the presence of women was clearly unacceptable. He reaffirmed the Eiffel Tower’s commitment to the values of the French Republic and equality between men and women.
Following the controversy, the Hindu religious and social organisation BAPS said it understood the concerns raised by employees and was taking them extremely seriously. The organisation stated that the visit had been arranged with the Eiffel Tower management at the start of normal operating hours due to the delegation’s large size, in order to minimise possible disruption to other tourists.
BAPS added that, to its knowledge, no one had been denied entry to the Eiffel Tower. However, it sincerely apologised if the situation had caused anyone discomfort or inconvenience and said it remained committed to universal values of mutual respect and service to others.
BAPS, formally known as the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, works to improve society through religious faith, service, and global harmony. The organisation is a registered charitable institution in India and holds consultative status with the United Nations.
