Eiffel Tower Shuts Down After Staff Strike Over Alleged Sidelining of Women During BAPS Visit

The Eiffel Tower was shut to visitors after staff went on strike over allegations that female employees were sidelined during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation linked to BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha).

The dispute relates to a visit last week by a delegation of around 100 people associated with BAPS, whose representatives were in France for events connected to the inauguration of a temple in the Paris suburbs.

Eiffel Tower staff said they had been given instructions that resulted in female employees being removed from certain positions and replaced by male colleagues during the delegation's visit.

In a statement, staff condemned "professional instructions that led to female employees being sidelined, replaced, and rendered invisible based on their gender" during the visit.

According to the employees, some women were instructed to leave their posts and move to other areas, while others were told not to enter or cross specific areas while the delegation was present. Some positions were reportedly staffed by male employees instead.

Eiffel Tower operator acknowledges concerns

SETE, the company responsible for operating the Eiffel Tower, acknowledged that the delegation had requested arrangements intended to limit interactions with women.

The company said such conditions "should not have been accepted", adding that they were inconsistent with SETE's values and principles of equality between men and women.

Ariel Well said on X:

"As I said to Le Parisien, I understand the emotion of the Eiffel Tower staff: no motive of a religious order could justify a distinction based on gender or any other discriminatory consideration in welcoming the public. The time has come for clarity."

BAPS responds

BAPS said it understood the concerns raised by Eiffel Tower staff and apologised to anyone who may have been hurt or inconvenienced.

In a statement, BAPS said:

"We understand the concerns expressed and take them very seriously.

Given the size of our delegation, the visit was organized in coordination with the Eiffel Tower teams, at the start of normal opening hours, in order to limit as much as possible any disruption for other visitors.

To our knowledge, at no time was access to the Eiffel Tower denied to anyone.

Nevertheless, we wish to offer our sincere apologies to anyone who may have been hurt or inconvenienced by this situation.

We are deeply committed to the universal values of mutual respect and service to others.

We respect the concerns raised and take them very seriously.

Due to the size of our delegation, the visit was arranged in conjunction with the Eiffel Tower team at the start of normal opening hours to avoid disrupting or inconveniencing others.

To the best of our knowledge, at no point was anyone prevented access to the Eiffel Tower.
Nevertheless, we sincerely apologise for any pain or inconvenience caused.

We believe in the universal values of mutual respect and service."