Eiffel Tower: Investigation after female staff replaced by men for religious visit

BAPS consecrated its first major temple in France on Sunday, in a Parisian suburb.

In a statement on X, BAPS said the trip was “arranged in conjunction with the Eiffel Tower team at the start of normal opening hours to avoid disrupting or inconveniencing others”.

It apologised “for any pain or inconvenience caused”, adding “we believe in the universal values of mutual respect and service”.

On its website, the group describes itself as a “spiritual, volunteer-driven fellowship dedicated to improving society” through Hindu values.

It has temples in major cities around the world, including London, Los Angeles and Sydney.

It draws its beliefs from the teachings of Lord Swaminarayan, a late 18th-Century celibate ascetic who is regarded by his followers as an incarnation of Vishnu, the revered Hindu god of preservation.

The movement strictly separates men and women, including in temple activities and building entrances.

BAPS says the segregation was introduced for the benefit of women, but critics say 18th-Century beliefs have no place in today’s world, and keeping women out in the name of religious practices is discriminatory.

Politicians in France have condemned Saturday’s incident.

Yaël Braun-Pivet, the president of France’s National Assembly, said: “I refuse to allow women to be compelled to step aside in order to meet the demands of foreign visitors.”

French hard-right leader Marine Le Pen said: “In France, we will never accept that the presence of women be ‘limited’.”

Former centre-right French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who has said he will run for the presidency next year, said: “In France, no culture, no belief, no worship, nothing nor anyone can come to dictate to women their place.”