everyside
Eiffel Tower · India

Eiffel Tower closes after staff protest women’s sidelining

96 sourcesUpdated 7 Sept 2026, 7:25 pm Coverage regionsGlobal · International · India
CATCH ME UP

The Eiffel Tower closed temporarily after staff staged a strike over the handling of a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation.

Workers said female employees were told to leave their workstations or were moved out of sight during the visit.

The operator, SETE, said the delegation requested conditions limiting interactions with women and that those terms should not have been accepted.

French officials and politicians condemned the episode and said an investigation was ordered.

More context

BAPS apologized for any inconvenience, while saying tower access was not denied to anyone.

AGREEMENT VS DISAGREEMENT

What lines up. What splits.

A quick read on shared facts, changing details, and different emphasis.

What coverage agrees on

All of the reporting agrees that the Eiffel Tower saw a temporary closure after staff protested the treatment of women during a visit by a Hindu delegation. The accounts also agree that SETE acknowledged the disputed conditions and that BAPS apologized.

What is changing or disputed

What remains less settled is the exact account of how women were sidelined, with the reporting describing it as allegations or reported instructions from workers and unions. The details of any investigation and its findings remain unclear.

HOW COVERAGE DIFFERS

Same story. Different emphasis.

Swipe through the perspectives. Labels describe coverage framing, not truth or quality.

Left2

Left-leaning coverage frames the episode as a discrimination issue and highlights French political leaders’ condemnation. It emphasizes that women staffers were removed from their workstations and that the incident was described as a “degrading demand.” It also notes that SETE admitted the conditions should not have been accepted and that BAPS apologized.

Centre12

Center-leaning coverage focuses on the operational disruption and the immediate cause of the closure. It reports that a staff strike led to the Eiffel Tower shutting temporarily after female employees were reportedly moved aside during a Hindu group’s visit. It also includes SETE’s acknowledgment that the requested arrangement limiting interactions with women should not have been accepted.

STORY TIMELINE

How the coverage developed

The latest eight dated reports, from earliest to newest.

GO DEEPER

Read the reporting

Scan each source take, then open the original article.

Scroll.in Left source Provisional rating

‘Degrading demand’: French leaders on removal of Eiffel Tower women staffers for Hindu group’s visit

Quick source take

Scroll.in reports that French politicians strongly criticized the removal of female Eiffel Tower staffers from their workstations during a visit by members of the Hindu denomination BAPS. Staff had staged a brief strike to protest the instructions to make themselves invisible to accommodate the delegation. Leaders such as Marine Le Pen, Jordan Bardella, Michel Barnier, and Emmanuel Grégoire condemned the incident, asserting that gender equality is non-negotiable. SETE admitted the conditions should not have been accepted, and BAPS offered its apologies.

Al Jazeera Left source Provisional rating

What is BAPS, the Hindu group whose demands led to Eiffel Tower closure?

Quick source take

The Eiffel Tower experienced a temporary closure after workers went on strike to protest the sidelining of female staff during a private visit by the BAPS Hindu organization. Operating company SETE acknowledged that the group requested conditions limiting interactions with women, which should not have been accepted. French politicians expressed outrage over the incident, asserting that religious demands cannot override national equality laws. BAPS issued an apology for any inconvenience caused while stating that tower access was not denied to anyone.

India Today Centre source Provisional rating

Eiffel Tower closes amid row over women staff sidelined during Hindu group's visit

Quick source take

The Eiffel Tower faced a temporary closure on Monday as employees went on strike to protest allegations that female staff were sidelined during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation. Union representatives stated that women were told to leave their workstations to accommodate male staff as the group passed through. The Eiffel Tower operator, SETE, acknowledged that the delegation requested a visit limiting interactions with women and admitted those conditions should not have been accepted, prompting an investigation ordered by Paris authorities.

France 24 Centre source Reported

Eiffel Tower closed in row over women removed for Hindu group

Quick source take

The Eiffel Tower experienced a closure on Monday due to a staff strike following the removal of female employees during a visit by a Hindu religious group. Workers and management confirmed that the industrial action was sparked by the handling of the delegation's tour. France 24 reported on the strike and the subsequent reactions from personnel and administrative leadership regarding the controversy.

Euronews.com Centre source Reported

Eiffel Tower closes as staff strike amid row over Hindu group visit

Quick source take

Staff at the Eiffel Tower staged a walkout on Monday, causing the landmark to close after female employees were reportedly moved out of sight during a visit by a Hindu religious group. The BAPS delegation had visited the monument following the inauguration of a new temple in France. SETE admitted that the delegation requested an arrangement limiting interactions with women, which should not have been accepted, while French officials strongly condemned the incident and announced an investigation.

anews.com.tr Centre source Reported

Eiffel Tower closed in row over women removed for Hindu group

Quick source take

The Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday because of a staff strike triggered by the removal of female colleagues during a visit by the BAPS spiritual movement. Eiffel Tower staff condemned the professional instructions that sidelined female employees on the basis of their sex. SETE admitted that management should not have accepted the delegation's request to limit interactions with women, and Paris officials announced plans to investigate the event.

The Times of India Centre source Provisional rating

Eiffel Tower shuts after female staff allegedly sidelined during Hindu group's visit

Quick source take

This article reports that the Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday after employees staged a walkout over allegations that female workers were moved away from workstations during a visit by a Hindu group linked to BAPS. The operator, SETE, acknowledged accepting delegation requests to limit interactions with women but stated these conditions should not have been accepted. BAPS issued an apology, while Paris officials condemned the event and announced an investigation.

Oneindia Centre source Reported

Eiffel Tower Shut After Female Staff Sidelined for Hindu Delegation; BAPS Issues Apology

Quick source take

This source reports that the Eiffel Tower remained closed on Monday following a staff strike over allegations that female employees were instructed to make themselves invisible during a visit by a Hindu religious delegation linked to BAPS. SETE, the operating company, admitted that the delegation had requested conditions limiting interactions with women and stated that those conditions should not have been accepted. Meanwhile, BAPS issued an apology, and local officials announced an investigation into the incident.

The New Indian Express Centre source Reported

Eiffel Tower shuts after female staff sidelined during Hindu group’s visit, reopens after management apologises

Quick source take

The New Indian Express reports that the Eiffel Tower temporarily closed after employees went on strike following allegations that female staff were sidelined during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation from BAPS. Employees claimed women were instructed to leave workstations or were replaced by male colleagues to limit interactions. Management initially accepted the requested conditions but later apologized, admitting the decision conflicted with gender equality principles. Political figures condemned the move, while BAPS apologized and stated the arrangements aimed to prevent overcrowding rather than discriminate.

The Hindu Centre source Provisional rating

Eiffel Tower to reopen after row over removing women staff

Quick source take

The Hindu reports that the Eiffel Tower was set to reopen on Tuesday following a staff walkout over the removal of women colleagues during a visit by a Hindu religious group. The operating company SETE acknowledged that the BAPS delegation requested the visit to limit interactions with women and admitted those conditions should not have been accepted. BAPS later apologised for any pain or inconvenience caused, while staff condemned the professional instructions that sidelined female employees based on their sex.

The Logical Indian Centre source Reported

Eiffel Tower Closed After Staff Strike Over Alleged Sidelining of Female Workers During Hindu Group’s Visit

Quick source take

The Logical Indian reports that the Eiffel Tower closed on Monday following a staff strike over allegations that female employees were moved away from their workstations during a private visit by members of the Hindu group BAPS. According to staff representatives, women were asked to step aside to limit interactions with the delegation. SETE, the operator of the monument, acknowledged that these conditions should not have been accepted, while BAPS apologised for any hurt or inconvenience caused while denying that anyone was knowingly denied access.

International Business Times, Singapore Edition Centre source Reported

BAPS Hindu Group at Center of Eiffel Tower Women Staff Row as Paris Landmark Reopens

Quick source take

The Eiffel Tower briefly closed following a strike by staff members who protested the treatment of female employees during a private visit by members of the BAPS Hindu organization. Workers reported that women were relocated or replaced by male colleagues to limit interactions with the delegation. Operating company SETE admitted the conditions should not have been accepted, while Paris authorities announced an investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, BAPS offered apologies for any inconvenience caused and stated the visit was coordinated to avoid disrupting other visitors.

thehindu.com Centre source Reported

Not involved, says government amid controversy over religious group’s Eiffel Tower tour

Quick source take

The Indian government stated it was not involved in the controversy surrounding a BAPS delegation's visit to the Eiffel Tower, which led to a one-day closure due to staff protests over alleged restrictions on female employees. Paris city officials launched an inquiry into the incident, while BAPS denied making any demands to limit interactions with women. The controversy followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's virtual inauguration of a BAPS temple in a Paris suburb. French political figures criticized the incident, emphasizing the country's commitment to gender equality.

The Hindu Centre source Provisional rating

Not involved, says government amid controversy over religious group’s Eiffel Tower tour

Quick source take

The Indian government stated it was not involved in the controversy surrounding a BAPS delegation's visit to the Eiffel Tower, which led to a one-day closure due to staff protests over alleged restrictions on female employees. Paris city officials launched an inquiry into the incident, while BAPS denied making any demands to limit interactions with women. The controversy followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's virtual inauguration of a BAPS temple in a Paris suburb. French political figures criticized the incident, emphasizing the country's commitment to gender equality.