A federal judge on Monday ordered Iowa officials to permit the Satanic Temple (TST) to hold a holiday event in the state capitol rotunda, saying the group was likely to succeed on its free speech claim. Chief District Judge Stephanie M. Rose gave the Iowa Department of Administrative Services seven days to approve the application. The office of Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird said state Republicans intend to appeal the decision.
The Satanic Temple, which describes itself as a non-theistic organization that uses Satan as a symbol to oppose religious authoritarianism, has been in a legal clash with the state over its applications for holiday events in recent years. The group filed its lawsuit in August alleging discrimination. In 2023, a veteran vandalised a TST display in the capitol, with Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk pledging $10,000 to the accused vandal's legal defence.
The proposed holiday event was to include costumes of the European folklore character Krampus, caroling, and ornament making. In denying the application, state officials cited policies against gratuitous violence and obscene displays, pointing to sticks in the Krampus costumes and the potential to frighten children. Judge Rose rejected these justifications, writing that scaring children was 'not a permissible basis for excluding speech' and that concerns over sticks 'cannot justify denying the entire event.'
ACLU of Iowa staff attorney Shefali Aurora said in a statement on the court order that state officials had made clear they denied TST permission to hold events in the Capitol rotunda because they disagreed with its religious viewpoint. She said it was a foundational principle that the government cannot restrict speech in this way, favor one religion over another, or discriminate against religious groups because they do not agree with them.
Governor Kim Reynolds has not commented on the court order, though in 2023 she called the group's display 'absolutely objectionable' while stressing that 'the best response to objectionable speech is more speech.'
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The ruling reinforces the principle that government entities cannot discriminate against religious viewpoints when granting access to public forums.
- It highlights the specific legal limits of state 'safety' justifications for excluding speech in public buildings.
- Adds to the ongoing national culture war over religious displays and the role of nontheistic groups in public life.
Background
The Satanic Temple (TST) was founded in 2013 as a nontheistic religious organization that uses Satanic imagery to promote secularism, individualism, and opposition to religious authority. Iowa has been a central battleground in this debate, with Republican officials repeatedly denying the group's requests for access to the capitol. The group previously had a display in the capitol in 2023 that was vandalised.
Key Perspectives
The Satanic Temple: Argues it is exercising its First Amendment right to free exercise of religion and speech and that state officials have discriminated against it.
Iowa Republican Officials: Cite the capitol's policies prohibiting gratuitous violence and obscene displays, as well as protecting children, as the basis for denying the application. They plan to appeal the judge's order.
ACLU of Iowa: Maintains the state violated the constitutional prohibition on restricting speech and favouring one religion over another.
What to Watch
- The progress of the appeal, which could eventually reach the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Whether the event proceeds as planned following the court's 7-day deadline for approval.
- Potential revisions to the Iowa Capitol's event policies in response to the court's ruling.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedJudge Rose said scaring children was “not a permissible basis for excluding speech.”World news | The Guardian: “Judge Rose wrote that the state officials’ arguments did not justify the denials, noting the argument that the character Krampus might scare children was “not a permissible basis for excluding speech””
- SupportedJudge Rose said concerns about the sticks “cannot justify denying the entire event.”World news | The Guardian: “the argument about the sticks included with the costumes “cannot justify denying the entire event”.”
- SupportedReynolds called the group’s display “absolutely objectionable.”World news | The Guardian: ““like many Iowans, I find the Satanic Temple’s display in the Capitol absolutely objectionable.”
- SupportedReynolds said “the best response to objectionable speech is more speech.”World news | The Guardian: “In a free society, the best response to objectionable speech is more speech,”
- SupportedA federal judge ordered Iowa officials to permit the Satanic Temple to hold a holiday event in the state capitol rotunda.World news | The Guardian: “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”
- SupportedJudge Rose said the group was likely to succeed on its free speech claim.World news | The Guardian: “Chief District Judge Stephanie M Rose stated in her court order that the group was likely to succeed on its free speech claim”
- SupportedThe judge gave the Iowa Department of Administrative Services seven days to approve the application.World news | The Guardian: “ordered the current director of the Iowa department of administrative services to approve the holiday event application within seven days.”
- SupportedThe office of Attorney General Brenna Bird said Iowa Republicans intend to appeal.World news | The Guardian: “According to the office of the attorney general, Brenna Bird, state Republicans intend to appeal the federal judge’s decision.”
- SupportedState officials cited safety and child-protection concerns in denying the application, including the sticks in the costumes and the possibility of frightening children.World news | The Guardian: “In its denial of the application, state officials cited sticks included in the costumes that could be used as weapons and policies meant to protect children who might be present in the public space.”
- SupportedThe Satanic Temple filed its lawsuit in August alleging discrimination.World news | The Guardian: “The Satanic Temple and Iowa chapter leader filed a lawsuit in August, alleging discrimination from former and current state officials.”
- SupportedTurning Point founder Charlie Kirk pledged $10,000 to the accused vandal’s legal defence.World news | The Guardian: “The Turning Point founder, Charlie Kirk, pledged $10,000 to the accused vandal’s legal defense.”
- SupportedThe proposed event was to include Krampus costumes, caroling and ornament making.World news | The Guardian: “The group said its proposed holiday event would include costumes of the European folklore character Krampus, caroling, coloring for children and ornament making.”