In a significant ruling, a federal judge has mandated that Iowa officials allow the local chapter of the Satanic Temple to hold its holiday event. (Pic Credit: Oli London X handle)
In August, the satanic temple and the head of its Iowa chapter filed a lawsuit in federal court, accusing current and former state officials of religious discrimination. They argued that repeated refusals to approve their holiday event violated their constitutional rights as well as state law. Chief district judge Stephanie M. Rose ruled that the organisation was likely to succeed in its free speech claim. She directed the current head of the Iowa department of administrative services to approve the group’s application within seven days.
A federal judge on Monday directed Iowa officials to permit a local chapter of the Satanic Temple to organise a holiday event in the rotunda of the state Capitol, overturning years of rejected applications by the religious organisation.
Dispute over holiday display and event
She observed that the possibility of the Krampus character frightening children was “not a permissible basis for excluding speech”. She also said concerns about sticks being carried as costume accessories could not justify preventing the entire event. The proposed holiday programme includes costumes representing Krampus, a character from European folklore, along with carol singing, children’s colouring activities and ornament-making. State officials had opposed the event on the grounds that it could expose children visiting the public building to potentially disturbing displays. They also raised concerns about sticks carried as part of the Krampus costumes, arguing that the objects could be used as weapons. Members of the satanic temple disputed these objections.