The Eiffel Tower is closed, workers strike over discrimination against women.

The Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors on Monday following a strike by its staff, who protested against the removal of female employees during a visit by a Hindu religious group. According to the workers, female staff were ordered to step aside or be replaced by male colleagues during the visit, which took place on Saturday. The closure was attributed to "operational reasons" on the Eiffel Tower's official website, though internal sources suggested the strike was directly linked to the incident. The dispute arose after approximately 100 members of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) spiritual movement visited the monument. During their tour, female employees were reportedly instructed to avoid certain areas of the third floor, where the group was present. Male staff were assigned to accompany the visitors instead. This directive, according to the workers, violated the principle of gender equality and sparked outrage among both employees and officials. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire expressed solidarity with the striking workers, stating that gender equality must apply everywhere in the city, including at historical landmarks. He announced plans to launch an investigation into the incident. Ariel Weil, the mayor of central Paris and chairman of the company managing the Eiffel Tower, also criticized the decision, emphasizing that no religious reason can justify discrimination based on gender or any other factor. He stated that the company would address the issue and ensure clarity moving forward. Valérie Pécresse, the conservative president of the Île-de-France region, described the request by the Hindu delegation to exclude female staff as shocking. She questioned how such a condition could be accommodated during an organized visit to one of France's most iconic structures. The company responsible for the Eiffel Tower, known as SETE, admitted that the decision to accommodate the delegation's request was a mistake. It acknowledged that the conditions imposed by the group did not align with its core values or the principles of gender equality. SETE confirmed it would accept the consequences of the incident and commit to upholding its standards. The strike resulted in the Eiffel Tower remaining closed throughout Monday, though it was expected to reopen on Tuesday. Staff representatives indicated that operations would return to normal once the strike concluded. The incident has raised broader questions about the balance between religious practices and the rights of workers, particularly regarding gender equality in public spaces. The BAPS group, associated with India's ruling Hindu nationalist party, recently consecrated its first major temple in France near Paris. Their visit coincided with a cultural event on the Seine River, highlighting the intersection of religious observance and public policy in France. The Eiffel Tower typically welcomes around seven million visitors annually. Its temporary closure underscored the sensitivity of the situation and the potential impact on tourism and public perception of the landmark. As the investigation proceeds, further details about the specific requests made by the Hindu delegation and the internal procedures followed by the Eiffel Tower management are likely to emerge.