Eiffel Tower faces backlash over female staff restrictions during Hindu group’s visit

The Eiffel Tower reopened Tuesday following a staff strike sparked by allegations that managers instructed female employees to stay out of sight during a visit by a religious group, according to a report by The Washington Post. French media said Parisian authorities have promised an investigation into the incident, which has triggered widespread political condemnation across the country.

The controversy centers on claims that female staff were told to retreat during the visit of a Hindu group, raising concerns about gender equality and the enforcement of France’s secular principles at one of its most iconic landmarks. The Eiffel Tower’s management has not issued a detailed public response beyond confirming the site’s reopening. The incident has fueled debate in France over how public institutions accommodate religious groups’ requests, particularly when such requests appear to conflict with workplace equality standards.