Eiffel Tower closed after staff protest over women excluded from Hindu group visit

The Eiffel Tower was temporarily closed on Monday after a group of employees staged a protest in response to allegations that women were being “sidelined” during a visit by a Hindu cultural delegation. The staff, who work in the tower’s hospitality and visitor‑services departments, gathered at the entrance and displayed signs denouncing the perceived gender discrimination, prompting the management to suspend public access while security and union representatives addressed the dispute.

Tower officials confirmed that the shutdown lasted for several hours and that no visitors were harmed. They indicated that an internal review would be launched to examine the organization of the group’s itinerary and to ensure compliance with the site’s equality policies. The incident has sparked broader discussions about gender inclusion in cultural events hosted at major tourist attractions, and the Eiffel Tower is scheduled to reopen later in the day after the matter was escalated to senior management.