Judge orders this state to allow Satanic Temple holiday event

A federal judge has ordered Iowa officials to allow the Satanic Temple to hold a holiday event at the state Capitol in December after the state repeatedly denied the group's applications in recent years.

Chief U.S. District Judge Stephanie Rose issued a preliminary injunction Nov. 2, finding that the Satanic Temple of Iowa was likely to succeed in its claim that state officials violated its free speech rights by rejecting the proposed events.

The ruling requires the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, which oversees Capitol event scheduling, to approve the group's application within seven days. The event is scheduled for Dec. 12 and is expected to feature a Krampus costume contest, holiday caroling, coloring activities for children and ornament making.

The Satanic Temple and the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa filed a lawsuit in August, alleging that state officials discriminated against the organization because of its religious viewpoint. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird's office said it plans to immediately appeal the decision.

Why did Iowa deny the Satanic Temple's event?

The Iowa Department of Administrative Services denied the group's applications in 2024, 2025 and 2026, despite approving event permits for other religious organizations.

Officials cited concerns about the proposed Krampus costume contest, arguing that the costumes could frighten children and sticks used as props could pose a safety risk.

Krampus is a figure from European folklore often depicted with horns and a bundle of sticks. Traditionally associated with St. Nicholas, the character is said to punish misbehaving children during the Christmas season.

Rose rejected the state's arguments, writing that the possibility of costumes frightening children was not a permissible reason to exclude the event. She also said concerns about the sticks did not justify banning the entire gathering, noting that participants would still be subject to the Capitol's standard security screening.

"Excluding Krampus costumes because they might frighten children, while admitting the season's celebratory displays, targets a perspective on the holiday rather than the holiday itself," Rose wrote.

Iowa plans to appeal the ruling

The Iowa Attorney General's Office said it intends to appeal Rose's decision, arguing that the proposed event is not appropriate for young children who regularly visit the Capitol.

"Families with young children visit the Capitol regularly, especially over the holiday season. The State of Iowa wants the Capitol complex to be safe and welcoming for those kids," Jen Green, a spokesperson for Bird, said in a statement.

Green said the office would immediately appeal the decision to ensure the Capitol remains a suitable place for visitors of all ages.

The preliminary injunction does not end the legal dispute. The Satanic Temple is also seeking a permanent injunction and monetary damages over the alleged violations of its rights.

Matt Kezhaya, the group's general counsel, said the ruling made the organization "very emboldened" in its legal fight.

Satanic Temple has sought equal access at public schools

The Iowa dispute is part of the Satanic Temple's broader efforts to gain access to public institutions for its religious activities.

In 2023, the organization announced plans to offer an alternative religious education program at Edgewood Elementary School in Marysville, Ohio, in response to Christian release-time programs. Those programs allow students to leave public school during the day for religious instruction.

The proposed program, called the Hellions Academy of Independent Learning, or HAIL, was designed to offer activities such as arts and crafts, games and community service projects focused on values including empathy, compassion and justice. The Satanic Temple also announced plans for similar programs in Tennessee and Michigan.

The organization argued that public schools allowing religious instruction programs should not exclude students or groups based on their religious beliefs. It has also organized After School Satan Clubs at schools where other religious clubs are permitted.

What is the Satanic Temple?

Founded in Salem, Massachusetts, in 2013, the Satanic Temple describes itself as a non-theistic religious organization that advocates for secularism and the separation of church and state.

The organization says it does not believe in or worship Satan. Instead, it uses Satan as a symbol of rebellion against arbitrary authority and religious oppression.

The group previously held a holiday display at the Iowa Capitol in December 2023 featuring Baphomet, a goat-headed figure associated with occult imagery. The display was vandalized by a man who traveled from Mississippi.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, criticized the display at the time, calling it "absolutely objectionable." She encouraged Iowans to pray over the Capitol and recognize the nativity scene that was also on display.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at [email protected] or on X @athompsonUSAT