A federal judge has ordered Iowa officials to allow a local Satanic Temple organization to hold a holiday event in the state capitol rotunda, after the group’s applications were denied in recent years. The order requires the director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services to approve the application within seven days.
Chief District Judge Stephanie M. Rose said the Satanic Temple was likely to succeed in its claim that officials violated its free speech rights. The group and its Iowa chapter leader filed suit in August, alleging discrimination by current and former state officials. Iowa Republicans intend to appeal, according to the attorney general’s office.
Officials had cited capitol policies against gratuitous violence and obscene displays when rejecting the applications. They also raised concerns about sticks included in costumes for the proposed event, which could be used as weapons, and about protecting children in the public space.
The proposed event would include costumes representing Krampus, a character from European folklore, as well as caroling, children’s coloring activities and ornament making. Rose said concerns that Krampus might frighten children were not a permissible reason to exclude the group’s speech, and that concerns about the costume props did not justify rejecting the entire event.
The Satanic Temple describes itself as a non-theistic religious organization that advocates secularism. It says it does not believe in Satan, but uses the figure as a symbol in opposition to religious authoritarianism.
The group held a religious holiday display at the Iowa capitol in December 2023, but it was vandalized. Its application for a display and event the following year was denied. The Iowa Department of Administrative Services and Governor Kim Reynolds had not commented on the latest ruling.
Sources: The Guardian World.