Eiffel Tower staff condemned ‘professional instructions that led to female employees being sidelined, replaced, and rendered invisible based on their gender’ during the visit by the delegation.
Eiffel Tower temporarily closed after women staff sidelined during Hindu groups visit: The Eiffel Tower in Paris was temporarily closed after protest by staff on Monday. It was alleged that female staff members were asked to move away from the area during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation. Paris authorities and the Eiffel Tower’s operator have ordered inquiries into the incident.
On Saturday, a delegation of around 100 people associated with the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) made a private visit to the Eiffel Tower. They were gathered in France for celebrations tied to the inauguration of a Hindu temple near Paris.
In a statement, Eiffel Tower staff condemned ‘professional instructions that led to female employees being sidelined, replaced, and rendered invisible based on their gender’ during the visit by the delegation. As the delegation passed through, women were asked to leave their workstations so that men could take their places, union representative Diane Davoine told Reuters. Signs at the monument said the opening was delayed “for operational reasons”. Davoine said.
BAPS said the visit had been coordinated with Eiffel Tower authorities to minimise disruption and ensure normal access for visitors. In a statement on X, it said it was unaware of any instance in which visitors were denied entry and apologised to anyone who may have felt hurt or inconvenienced. It added that it remained committed to mutual respect and was taking the concerns seriously.
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