Eiffel Tower Reopens After Gender Equality Protest

The Eiffel Tower reopened on September 7, 2026, after a closure due to staff protests against the removal of female employees during a visit by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, a Hindu organization based in Ahmedabad, India. Employees expressed outrage over instructions that required women to step aside, stating they were sidelined and instructed not to enter certain areas while the delegation was present.

The operating company, SETE, acknowledged the delegation's request but deemed such conditions unacceptable and contrary to the Tower's values of gender equality. France's Minister for Gender Equality and the Fight Against Discrimination, Aurore Bergé, condemned the incident as "unacceptable," asserting that in France, gender equality is a principle that cannot be compromised.

The incident occurred as thousands of Hindu devotees participated in various events in France.