Paris opens probe after women excluded from Hindu delegation visit

Female employees at the Eiffel Tower were instructed to step away from public view during a visit by members of a Hindu religious delegation over the weekend, union representatives said on Saturday. The request prompted immediate backlash from staff unions and triggered an official inquiry by Paris city authorities into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to union officials, the women were asked to absent themselves from areas where the delegation would be present. The move was reportedly made without prior notification to staff or transparent explanation of the reasoning behind the directive.

Paris city officials confirmed they have opened an investigation into the matter, treating it as a potential breach of equality and workplace standards. The probe will examine whether the exclusion of female employees constituted discrimination and assess the decision-making process that led to the request.

The incident has drawn scrutiny over religious accommodation practices at major public institutions in France, a country with strict secular principles enshrined in its governance framework. Staff representatives have called for clarity on the incident and assurances that similar situations will not recur at the popular tourist destination.