Eiffel Tower Shut After Staff Walkout Over Women’s Exclusion During BAPS Visit

September 08, 2026
Faith Gujarat India India/World Religious

Paris: The Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday after staff staged a walkout over the treatment of female employees during a visit by a delegation from BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha).

The protest followed a visit on Saturday by around 100 BAPS delegates, who were in France for the inauguration of a major Hindu temple near Paris.

Employees alleged that female workers were moved away from their workstations and, in some instances, replaced by male colleagues as the delegation passed through the monument.

In a statement, staff condemned the instructions, saying female employees had been “sidelined, replaced, and rendered invisible based on their gender.”

Diane Davoine, a union representative, told French television that female employees had been asked to leave their posts during the visit.

SETE, the company that operates the Eiffel Tower, acknowledged that the delegation had requested arrangements to minimise interactions with women. The company said such conditions should not have been accepted, as they were inconsistent with its values and the principle of equality between men and women.

SETE president Ariel Weil told AFP that the practice was “clearly not acceptable” and reaffirmed the landmark’s commitment to equality and republican values.

BAPS Responds

BAPS, which consecrated its first major temple in France near Paris on Sunday, said it respected the concerns raised by Eiffel Tower staff and took them seriously.

The organisation said the visit was coordinated with Eiffel Tower authorities because of the size of the delegation and was scheduled at the start of normal opening hours to minimise disruption to other visitors.

In a detailed press statement, BAPS said, “BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha wishes to address the concerns raised by staff of the Eiffel Tower and the subsequent media coverage regarding our delegation’s visit on Saturday.

Our delegation comprised close to 100 members. Given the size of the group, this visit was coordinated in advance with the Eiffel Tower’s management team, and was scheduled at the start of normal operating hours specifically to minimize any disruption to staff, other visitors, and the site’s regular functioning.

We want to be clear: this coordination was undertaken out of consideration for the Tower’s operations and logistics, and to ensure a smooth visit for a large group without inconveniencing the Tower’s employees or the public.

It was never, at any point, intended as a request rooted in gender, and any suggestion to the contrary does not reflect the spirit or values of our fellowship or the delegation.

BAPS remains firmly committed to the principles of equality, mutual respect, and service to all, regardless of gender, background, or belief – values that lie at the very heart of our tradition’s teachings and are reflected in our community work worldwide.

To our knowledge, no visitor or member of staff was denied access to the monument at any point during our visit.

That said, we take seriously the concerns expressed by the Eiffel Tower’s employees, and we sincerely regret any inconvenience or discomfort caused to them as a result of the arrangements made for our group’s visit.

We thank the Eiffel Tower’s management and staff for their cooperation, and we remain committed to engaging constructively with all parties as this matter is reviewed.”

It is notable that the Swaminarayan sect, which was founded over 200 years ago by Sahajanand Swami, follows strict scriptural guidelines. Male sadhus of the sect follow these guidelines, outlined in the Shikshapatri and Vachanamrut, the foundational texts written by Sahajanand Swami, to maintain celibacy. These include not looking at, touching, speaking to, or being in the private company of women.

French Officials React

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said an investigation would be launched into the incident, adding that the employees’ concerns were legitimate.

“I am aware of the anger expressed by the employees of the Eiffel Tower, and I want to tell them that their dissatisfaction is legitimate. It is unacceptable that such conditions could be tolerated. These are neither my values nor those that the Eiffel Tower should uphold, where everyone must be able to move around and act freely, without distinction between women and men.

It is urgent that the full facts behind this mobilisation be brought to light. Equality between women and men will never stop at the foot of our historic monuments, nor anywhere else in this city. It must apply everywhere, to everyone.

I will ensure this is upheld everywhere and without exception. An investigation will be launched as soon as possible,” Emmanuel said in a X post.

French Leaders Condemn Incident

French Equality Minister Aurore Berge also criticised the reported arrangements, saying women in France should not be asked to “erase themselves” and that no religion or belief was above the laws of the Republic.

“In France, we do not ask women to step aside. No dogma, no religion is superior to the laws of the Republic,” Berge said.

Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen and centrist politician Gabriel Attal also condemned the incident, stressing that women’s presence or role could not be dictated by religious or cultural beliefs.

National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet also criticised the incident, saying she would not accept women being asked to step aside to accommodate the demands of foreign visitors. She stressed that welcoming visitors should not require France to compromise its values or the equal participation of women in public life.

The Eiffel Tower, which receives nearly seven million visitors annually, remained closed throughout Monday. A staff representative said it would reopen as normal on Tuesday. DeshGujarat

#BAPS #France #Paris #Swaminarayan

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