The Eiffel Tower experienced a temporary closure on Monday following a worker strike protesting the alleged sidelining of female staff during a private visit by the Hindu group Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). The landmark has since reopened, but the incident ignited controversy, leading to demands for an investigation and an apology from the religious organization.

The row erupted after BAPS requested that the Saturday visit be arranged to minimize interactions with women. The Societe d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), which manages the Paris monument, admitted that these conditions should not have been accepted. Staff members reported being asked to leave their posts, with some replaced by male colleagues, and female employees were instructed to avoid certain areas while the BAPS delegation was present.

In response to the worker protests, Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire stated that an investigation would be launched promptly. He acknowledged the employees' anger, deeming their dissatisfaction legitimate. The workers' union condemned the "professional instructions that led to female employees being sidelined, replaced and made invisible because of their sex."

The implications of the incident extend beyond the temporary closure, raising questions about the accommodation of religious practices that conflict with gender equality principles in public spaces. BAPS, a global socio-spiritual Hindu denomination founded in India in 1907, has a wide international presence with over 1,000 temples and cultural centers worldwide.

BAPS monks, known as sadhus, adhere to strict celibacy, which includes avoiding physical contact with women and minimizing interaction. However, BAPS clarified that its wider community members are not bound by these specific celibacy rules. The delegation that visited the Eiffel Tower reportedly included both monks and community members.

In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, the BAPS Paris account addressed the controversy. "To our knowledge, at no time was access to the Eiffel Tower denied to anyone," the statement read, seeking to clarify their position amidst the backlash.

This incident highlights the complex challenges that can arise when accommodating diverse religious observances within secular public institutions. The Paris Mayor's office has indicated a commitment to understanding how such a situation was permitted to occur and to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Further details regarding the investigation's findings and any potential policy changes at the Eiffel Tower or other French landmarks are anticipated. The episode has also prompted discussions among French politicians and the public regarding the balance between religious freedom and gender equality in public life.