Judge orders Iowa to allow Satanic Temple holiday event at capitol

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 07:17 · Archive

A federal judge has ordered Iowa officials to permit the Satanic Temple to hold a holiday event at the state capitol after years of rejections.

A federal judge has ordered Iowa state officials to permit the Satanic Temple to hold a holiday event in the rotunda of the state capitol. The religious organization had sought to hold the event for years before filing a lawsuit in August, alleging discrimination from state officials.

Republican leaders in Iowa, who control the governorship and majorities in both the state house and senate, had repeatedly rejected the group's applications. They cited the capitol building's policies prohibiting gratuitous violence and obscene displays. The Daily Mail reports that state officials drew particular concern from a planned costume contest featuring Krampus, a folkloric Christmas demon, whose costume would involve carrying bundles of sticks. A former director of the Department of Administrative Services warned the props could potentially 'harm children' or be used as weapons, and rejected what he called attempts to market Satanism to children.

Federal Chief District Judge Stephanie M Rose ruled that the Satanic Temple was likely to succeed on its free speech claim and ordered the current director of the Iowa department of administrative services to approve the application within seven days. The Satanic Temple, founded in Salem, Massachusetts, in 2013, characterizes itself as a non-theistic religious organization that uses Satan as a symbol to protest against religious authoritarianism. According to the office of attorney general Brenna Bird, state Republicans intend to appeal the decision.

How it is being reported

• Federal judge clears way for Satanists to hold holiday event in reluctant Midwestern state's CapitolFor years, Republican leaders in the state House and Senate argued that the religious group's proposed displays violate Capitol rules banning excessive violence and obscene material.Daily Mail · 5 Nov, 06:55
• Judge orders Iowa to permit Satanic Temple holiday event at state capitolFederal court says group likely to win its free speech claim and tells officials to approve application within seven days A federal judge ordered state officials in Iowa on Monday to permit a local Satanic Temple organization to hold a holiday event in the rotunda of the state capitol after years of denying the group’s application. The religious organization and Iowa Republican state officials have been in a legal battle over the group’s applications to hold a holiday event at the state capitol in recent years. Continue reading...Guardian World · 3 Nov, 13:14

In this story: Iowa · Satanic Temple · Brenna Bird · Stephanie M Rose

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