In brief
A delegation from the BAPS Hindu group visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and staff members were told to leave their work sites. The incident drew criticism from staff unions who said women were humiliated, and the company’s CEO called it shocking. The tower closed to protest on Monday, and France’s leaders condemned the ruling as unacceptable. An internal inquiry will look into the decision to replace women with men for the event.
An investigation has started after the Eiffel Tower staff told women to leave their positions for a Hindu group visit.
The BAPS delegation, about one hundred people, came to Paris to open a new temple and visited the tower on Saturday.
Staff union representative Diane Davoine said women were asked to leave their posts and felt humiliated. The tower closed on Monday when staff went on strike to protest.
BAPS keeps men and women separate in temples, a rule the staff said was imposed to match the group’s beliefs. President of the tower’s operating company, Ariel Weil, called the demand “overzealous” and “unacceptable.”
An internal investigation will find out who set the condition and make sure it never happens again. The company says the rule is not in line with its values or gender equality principles.
BAPS apologised for any pain or inconvenience, claiming the trip was arranged to avoid disrupting others. However, French politicians condemned the incident as a violation of women’s rights and an inappropriate decision that reflects old beliefs. President of the National Assembly and leaders from Marine Le Pen and former PM Gabriel Attal all spoke out against it.
The controversy shows how international religious practices can clash with modern equality norms, and it has sparked debate across France and beyond.
