An investigation has been launched into the Eiffel Tower's decision to remove female staff members during a recent visit by a Hindu religious group, an action that has drawn widespread condemnation and led to an employee walkout and a one-day closure of the iconic monument.
The operating company for the Eiffel Tower, SETE, acknowledged that the Hindu delegation had requested that Saturday's visit be organized to limit "interactions with women." The company stated that "these conditions should not have been accepted."
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire announced that two investigations into the incident are underway, calling the decision to sideline female staff "absurd, unjust and unacceptable." The city of Paris, which owns 99 percent of the landmark, will conduct one probe, while SETE will carry out a separate internal review with an external consultant. Gregoire indicated he was beginning to gather information regarding who authorized the directive but declined to provide further details, deferring to the ongoing investigations.
The monument was closed on Monday as SETE held a meeting between staff and management. Employees condemned "professional instructions that led to female employees being sidelined, replaced and made invisible because of their sex." A statement from staff members expressed shock, detailing that some female employees were asked to leave their posts and withdraw to other areas, were replaced by men in certain positions, and were instructed not to cross specific zones during the delegation's presence.
The Hindu group involved, the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS) spiritual movement, issued an apology for "any pain or inconvenience caused." The organization stated on X, formerly Twitter, that to their knowledge, "at no point was anyone prevented access to the Eiffel Tower." They explained that the visit was arranged at the start of normal operating hours due to the delegation's size to avoid inconveniencing others.
The BAPS organization recently opened its first major temple in France, located near Paris, which was consecrated by its spiritual leader, Mahant Swami Maharaj. The group claims a global network of over 1,300 temples.
France's gender equality minister, Aurore Berge, voiced her indignation, stating, "In France, we do not ask women to erase themselves." Political figures also commented, with far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen asserting that France would "never accept that women's presence be 'limited.'" Centrist presidential candidate Gabriel Attal added, "In France, no culture, no belief, no religion, nothing and no one can come and dictate to women what their place should be."
Members of the BAPS Hindu community were present in Paris around September 3, 2026, participating in a religious ceremony in front of the Eiffel Tower before a ceremonial river parade on the Seine. IMAGE1: IMAGE2:
