Federal Judge Orders Iowa to Allow Satanic Temple Holiday Event in State Capitol
A federal judge in Iowa has ordered state officials to permit the Satanic Temple of Iowa to host a holiday event in the rotunda of the state Capitol. This ruling, issued on November 2, follows years of the state rejecting the organization's applications. The Satanic Temple Iowa sued the state in August, alleging religious discrimination and violations of their constitutional rights and state law. Chief District Judge Stephanie M. Rose stated that the Satanic Temple is likely to succeed on its free-speech claim. The court has mandated the director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services to approve the group's application within seven days. Iowa's Republican leaders had previously barred the group's observances, citing policies against gratuitous violence and obscene displays, and expressing concerns about children being present. The Satanic Temple, founded in 2013, identifies as a non-theistic religious organization advocating for secularism and does not believe in Satan. Their proposed event incl...
