In Paris, during a private visit by the Hindu organization BAPS, female staff at the Eiffel Tower were ordered to “disappear from sight” and were replaced by men.
The organization, which has close ties to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political party, observes strict gender segregation. Female employees were prohibited from entering areas where the delegation was present, which trade unions condemned as humiliating and degrading.
Following the incident, staff went on strike. The management company operating the landmark acknowledged that administrative staff had “gone too far” in trying to accommodate the guests’ request and launched an internal investigation.
