Event
The Eiffel Tower temporarily closed after staff walked out over arrangements that removed or restricted female employees during a private visit by BAPS, a Hindu socio-spiritual organisation. The operator acknowledged the conditions should not have been accepted, while BAPS apologised. The tower has since reopened, and Paris authorities said an investigation would be launched.
2 published stories · security · source reliability 33%
Paris authorities will investigate reports that female employees were removed or restricted during a private BAPS visit. The organisation has apologised, while the tower operator said the arrangements should not have been accepted.
Background
BAPS, founded in India in 1907, is a Hindu socio-spiritual organisation operating temples and community programmes internationally. The Eiffel Tower closure followed a private BAPS visit on 5 September 2026, shortly after the virtual inauguration of a BAPS temple in Paris by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to SETE and a staff union, arrangements reportedly restricted or removed female employees from some duties. SETE said the conditions should not have been accepted. BAPS apologised, saying it was unaware anyone had been denied access. The reported measures’ origin and the investigation’s outcome remain unclear.
BAPS, founded in India in 1907, is a Hindu socio-spiritual organisation operating temples and community programmes internationally. The Eiffel Tower closure followed a private BAPS visit on 5 September 2026, shortly after the virtual inauguration of a BAPS temple in Paris by Indi
Fact cards
Key entities: BAPS, Eiffel Tower, SETE, Paris, Emmanuel Gregoire.
What is BAPS? A Hindu socio-spiritual organisation founded in India in 1907, with temples and community programmes internationally. Why did the Eiffel Tower close? Staff walked out over reported arrangements that sidelined or restricted female employees during a BAPS visit. Did B
Al Jazeera Global News | https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/8/what-is-baps-the-hindu-group-whose-demands-led-to-eiffel-tower-closure | published 2026-09-08T15:21:05.000Z | primary source | Al Jazeera Global News | Primary report on the closure, staff statements, BAPS response
2026-09-05: A BAPS delegation reportedly visited the Eiffel Tower during normal opening hours. 2026-09-07: Staff walked out over reported restrictions or removals affecting female employees, and the Eiffel Tower temporarily closed. 2026-09-08: The tower reopened; BAPS apologised,
Timeline
A BAPS delegation reportedly visited the Eiffel Tower during normal opening hours.
Staff walked out over reported restrictions or removals affecting female employees, and the Eiffel Tower temporarily closed.
The tower reopened; BAPS apologised, and Paris authorities said an investigation would be launched.
FAQ
A Hindu socio-spiritual organisation founded in India in 1907, with temples and community programmes internationally.
Staff walked out over reported arrangements that sidelined or restricted female employees during a BAPS visit.
The supplied material does not establish who instructed the changes or whether BAPS directly demanded them.
It apologised for pain or inconvenience and said it was unaware anyone had been denied access.
Paris authorities said an investigation would be launched.
Staff protested allegations that women workers were sidelined during a BAPS delegation’s visit.
The operator said the delegation requested limited interaction with women and that the arrangement should not have been accepted.
French officials called for an investigation, but its scope and outcome are not yet known.