ON
← Back to feed
The Eiffel Tower closed after requesting the withdrawal of female employees
Slovenia🏛️ PoliticsLean Progressive9/8/2026

The Eiffel Tower closed after requesting the withdrawal of female employees

The Eiffel Tower was closed yesterday after employees began striking due to the relocation of female workers during a visit by members of the Hindu religious group BAPS. According to reports, the tower’s closure was attributed to 'operational reasons,' though the exact nature of these reasons remains unclear. The incident involved approximately 100 people associated with the BAPS organization visiting a landmark in Paris. Employees, led by Diane Davoine of the union, claimed that women were instructed to step aside to make room for men. This sparked negative reactions among staff, particularly women, who felt disrespected. Tensions escalated over the weekend, leading employees to strike to demand accountability and changes in treatment toward women. The management of the Eiffel Tower, Société d’Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE), denied the request to limit interactions with women, stating it conflicted with their values of equality. The BAPS temple in Paris stated they organized the visit in collaboration with the Eiffel Tower team to avoid disturbing others. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire announced an investigation into the circumstances.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris was closed on Monday following a strike by staff over the removal of female employees during a visit by a Hindu religious group. According to reports from multiple sources, the delegation from the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) visited the landmark on Saturday. During the visit, female staff were instructed to vacate certain areas, allowing male employees to take their places. This decision reportedly caused widespread dissatisfaction among the workforce, particularly among women, who felt humiliated by how they were treated. Union representative Diane Davoine described the situation, stating that as the delegation arrived, women were told to leave their positions. “During the visit of this delegation, women were asked to leave their places of work in order to place men there,” she told Reuters. Davoine emphasized that the incident left many employees feeling disrespected and that tensions escalated over the weekend. As a result, staff held a meeting on Monday to address concerns and demand assurances that such treatment would not occur again. The Eiffel Tower’s managing company, Société d’Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE), confirmed that the Hindu delegation had requested the visit be organized to limit interactions with women. In a statement, SETE expressed that these conditions should not have been accepted, as they were not aligned with the company’s values or the principle of gender equality. President Ariel Weil reiterated that the practice was unacceptable and reaffirmed the Eiffel Tower’s commitment to republican values and equal rights for both genders. The controversy has drawn responses from several political figures in France. Pariški župan Emmanuel Gregoire announced plans for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the visit. On social media platform X, he stated that the frustration of the employees was justified and that equality between men and women must prevail everywhere, including at historical landmarks. Other political leaders, including Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Rally and former prime minister Gabriel Attal, also voiced their opposition to limiting women’s presence, emphasizing that no culture or belief should dictate where women can be. BAPS, the Hindu organization behind the visit, responded by explaining that the visit had been coordinated with Eiffel Tower staff to minimize disruption to visitors. In a statement on X, the group noted that the visit had been scheduled at the beginning of normal opening hours to avoid inconveniencing others. They apologized for any discomfort caused and reiterated their belief in universal values of mutual respect and service. BAPS, which is associated with India’s ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has temples in major global cities, including London, Los Angeles, and Sydney. The Eiffel Tower, one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, typically welcomes nearly seven million visitors annually. It remained closed throughout Monday but is expected to resume operations on Tuesday. The incident has highlighted growing tensions between cultural practices and workplace policies, especially regarding gender equality. While the immediate focus remains on resolving the dispute between staff and management, the broader implications have already sparked debate across political and social spheres in France.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 3 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

3 reports

Delo logoDeloIndependent🔒ProgressiveFactual 90Objective 759/8/2026
The Eiffel Tower closed after requesting the withdrawal of female employees

The Eiffel Tower was closed yesterday after employees began striking due to the relocation of female workers during a visit by members of the Hindu religious group BAPS. According to reports, the tower’s closure was attributed to 'operational reasons,' though the exact nature of these reasons remains unclear. The incident involved approximately 100 people associated with the BAPS organization visiting a landmark in Paris. Employees, led by Diane Davoine of the union, claimed that women were instructed to step aside to make room for men. This sparked negative reactions among staff, particularly women, who felt disrespected. Tensions escalated over the weekend, leading employees to strike to demand accountability and changes in treatment toward women. The management of the Eiffel Tower, Société d’Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE), denied the request to limit interactions with women, stating it conflicted with their values of equality. The BAPS temple in Paris stated they organized the visit in collaboration with the Eiffel Tower team to avoid disturbing others. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire announced an investigation into the circumstances.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue through the perspective of employee grievances and highlights the perceived violation of gender equality, which aligns with progressive values. While the event itself involves a cultural and religious group, the focus on workplace rights and gender equality positions the

Why factuality (90): This article provides detailed accounts from both the workers and the management, including quotes from union representatives and the company SETE. The information aligns closely with other sources and presents the events without significant contradictions. The reporting is thorough and supports the

Why objectivity (75): While the article remains largely factual, there is a slight tilt toward the workers’ perspective, particularly in describing the negative impact on female employees. This shows some editorializing but not extreme bias.

24ur (POP TV) logo24ur (POP TV)IndependentProgressiveFactual 88Objective 659/8/2026
Replaced by men because of a group of believers: 'Women were humiliated'

The article reports on a controversy at the Eiffel Tower in Paris involving a Hindu organization, BAPS, and its interaction with female employees. During a visit by approximately 100 members of BAPS, female staff were reportedly instructed to leave their workplaces to make room for men, leading to significant dissatisfaction among employees. The incident escalated over the weekend, prompting workers to demand a meeting with management and assurances that such occurrences would not recur. The Eiffel Tower’s management, Société d’Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE), acknowledged the decision was incorrect and stated it violated principles of gender equality. The event sparked a broader debate in France regarding the separation of state and religion, with local politicians expressing support for the workers' concerns and calling for an investigation.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the incident as a violation of gender equality and highlights the stance of French officials who support the workers' demands. While the issue involves religious practices, the focus on gender equality and the alignment with progressive political values suggests a left-leaning sl抗

Why factuality (88): The article covers the main facts of the dispute, including the replacement of female staff with males and the subsequent strike. It includes quotes from union leaders and confirms the management's stance. The information is consistent with other reports, though some emotional language is used to de

Why objectivity (65): The article uses emotionally charged language such as 'ponižane' (disgraced) to describe the women, which introduces a subjective tone. While the facts are clear, the emotional framing affects objectivity.

Reporter logoReporterIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 709/8/2026
Religious extremists have succeeded in withdrawing female staff from the Eiffel Tower.

A group associated with the Hindu spiritual movement BAPS requested that female staff at the Eiffel Tower limit their interaction during their visit, leading to female employees being instructed to move to other areas or step down from their positions. The management of the Eiffel Tower, operated by SETE, stated they were shocked by the request and emphasized that such conditions contradict their values of equality between genders. The incident sparked criticism, including from Paris mayor Emmanuel Macron’s Socialist ally, who called the situation unacceptable and announced an investigation. Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen condemned France’s acceptance of restrictions on women’s presence, while centrist candidate Gabriel Attal asserted that no culture or belief system can dictate where women should be. The Eiffel Tower was closed for much of Monday but reopened later in the day.

Bias read (Center): The article presents multiple perspectives, including criticisms from both far-right and centrist figures, alongside the official stance of the Eiffel Tower management. It does not favor any particular side and includes direct quotes from various actors involved, providing balanced coverage of the争议

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports the incident where female staff at Eiffel Tower were asked to step aside during a Hindu delegation visit, leading to their replacement by male staff. It mentions the response from the management and political figures like Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire and Marine Le Pen

Why objectivity (70): The tone leans slightly towards criticizing the management's decision, especially when quoting political figures who express strong opinions. While factual, the article frames the situation as controversial, showing some bias.

How each side covered it

The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.

How each side covered it

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Covered around the world

The same event as reported in other countries.

Covered around the world

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Claims check

Key factual claims, and how many sources assert vs dispute each.

Claims check

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Keep the news honest.

ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.

Become a Supporter

Related stories