Paris Investigates Claim Women Were Hidden from Hindu Delegation at Eiffel Tower

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Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Female employees at the Eiffel Tower were reportedly asked to remain out of sight during a visit by a Hindu religious delegation at the weekend, according to union representatives, prompting a staff protest and an investigation by Paris city authorities.

The monument was closed late on Monday as employees held a meeting to discuss the incident, which has angered staff and drawn criticism from French politicians.

The dispute stems from a private visit on Saturday by a delegation of around 100 people linked to BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha), a Hindu organisation whose representatives were in France for celebrations marking the inauguration of a Hindu temple in the Paris suburbs.

"As the delegation passed through, women were asked to leave their workstations so that men could take their places," Diane Davoine, a union representative, told Reuters.

"Tensions mounted over the weekend, so this morning, the employees decided to meet: first, to open a dialogue with management, and second, to ensure that women are never treated this way at the company again," she said.

Signs at the base of the tower on Monday read: "The opening of the Eiffel Tower is delayed for ‌operational ⁠reasons."

Davoine said management apologised to staff over the incident.

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said that an investigation would be launched "as soon as possible". In a post on social media platform X, he said that he was aware of the employees' anger and agreed their dissatisfaction was legitimate.

"It is urgent that all ⁠light be shed on the facts that led to this protest," Gregoire wrote.

"I refuse to accept that ⁠women should be told to step aside to meet the demands of foreign visitors," Yael Braun-Pivet, the president of the National Assembly, wrote in a post on X about ⁠the incident.

"Welcoming others never means giving up our values. In France, women are fully present in public life. No one tells them to become invisible," she added.

Source: Reuters



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