Paris Landmark Closes Over Gender Dispute During Hindu Group Visit

The Eiffel Tower in Paris closed its doors following worker demonstrations against gender-based restrictions imposed during a visit by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, commonly known as BAPS, a Hindu organization with millions of followers worldwide. The closure highlighted tensions between accommodating religious customs and maintaining workplace equality in secular settings. BAPS, which operates temples, educational institutions, and cultural centers across multiple continents, had reportedly requested arrangements that would have separated male and female visitors during their tour of the iconic monument. Workers protested what they viewed as discriminatory conditions being applied within the landmark, leading to the temporary shutdown. The incident sparked broader discussions in France about balancing religious accommodation with national principles of gender equality and secular governance. BAPS representatives have not publicly detailed the specific nature of their requests or responded to the allegations regarding gender segregation.