The Eiffel Tower was forced to close on Monday following a strike by workers protesting the exclusion of female employees during a visit by a Hindu religious delegation. Both staff unions and site management confirmed the shutdown.
The controversy centers on a religious ceremony hosted at the iconic Paris landmark earlier in the week. During the event, women working at the tower were reportedly removed from their posts to accommodate the traditions of the visiting Hindu group. Workers argued that this decision violated principles of gender equality and constituted discrimination.
The incident has reignited debates regarding the balance between religious accommodations and France’s strict secular laws, known as laïcité, which emphasize equality and the separation of church and state. Labor representatives stated that the strike was a necessary measure to protest what they described as a compromise on women’s rights.
The closure has disrupted tourism at one of France’s most visited monuments, drawing international attention to the ongoing tension between religious freedom and gender equity in public spaces.
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