A federal judge in Iowa ordered state officials on Monday to approve an application from a local Satanic Temple group to host a holiday event inside the state capitol rotunda. The ruling follows years of rejections by state authorities, with the court concluding that the religious organization is likely to win its free speech claim.
Legal Battle Over Capitol Access
The Satanic Temple and its Iowa chapter leader initiated a lawsuit in August, accusing both current and former state officials of discrimination. Republican leaders in Iowa, who hold the governorship as well as majorities in the state house and senate, previously rejected the group’s requests by pointing to capitol building rules that forbid obscene displays and gratuitous violence.
Chief District Judge Stephanie M. Rose wrote in her court order that the organization was likely to succeed on its free speech claim. She directed the current director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services to grant the holiday event application within seven days.
According to the office of Attorney General Brenna Bird, state Republicans plan to appeal the decision. Meanwhile, the Iowa Department of Administrative Services and Republican Governor Kim Reynolds have not yet issued comments regarding the federal court order.
Arguments Over the Proposed Event
The Satanic Temple explained that its planned holiday event would feature caroling, children’s coloring, ornament making, and costumes representing the European folklore figure Krampus. State officials had defended their denial by arguing that the sticks included with the Krampus costumes could pose a threat as weapons and that the character might frighten children visiting the public space.
Judge Rose dismissed these arguments in her ruling, stating that the concern over Krampus frightening children is not a valid reason to ban speech, and that issues regarding costume props cannot justify prohibiting the entire event. Shefali Aurora, a staff attorney for the ACLU of Iowa, stated in response to the ruling that state officials clearly denied the group permission because they opposed their religious viewpoint, violating the fundamental principle that the government cannot discriminate against religious groups or restrict speech.
The Satanic Temple, established in Salem, Massachusetts, in 2013, identifies as a non-theistic religious group advocating for secularism and the separation of church and state. The organization clarifies that it does not worship Satan, but rather uses the figure as a symbol of the eternal rebel to protest against religious authoritarianism and champion personal sovereignty.
In December 2023, the group set up a holiday display in the Iowa state capitol, which was later vandalized by a Christian military veteran. Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point, offered $10,000 toward the legal defense of the accused vandal, and state authorities subsequently denied the group’s applications for the following year.
When the group’s display was set up in 2023, Governor Reynolds stated that she found the display objectionable, as did many Iowans, and encouraged people of faith to pray over the capitol and observe the nativity scene instead.
