The Iowa chapter of The Satanic Temple has initiated a formal complaint, asserting that state authorities discriminated against them based on religious grounds. This action follows a rejection of their request to exhibit a holiday display and host an event at the Iowa Capitol in December 2024, a decision the group argues infringes upon their constitutional as well as civil rights in Iowa.
The spotlight turned to the Temple previously in 2023 when their holiday display at the Iowa Statehouse, featuring the figure of Baphomet, was destroyed by a Mississippi resident. This display stood alongside more traditional holiday decorations, such as Christmas trees. The application denial for their 2024 event has only intensified the dispute between the organization and state officials.
In response to the denial, Governor Kim Reynolds articulated that the policies of the state Capitol are formulated with the welfare of children and families in mind, as the building is a regular destination for visits by all age groups. She stated, “This satanic event, which specifically targeted children, would have been harmful to minors and so it was denied.”
The complaint names Adam Steen, director of the Department of Administrative Services, which manages public spaces within the Iowa Capitol, and argues against his decision-making. The complaint was lodged with Iowa’s civil rights office through the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Iowa, represented by Mortimer Adramelech, a minister for the state’s Satanic Temple group. The ACLU, aiming for state officials to reconsider their decision, considers this complaint a necessary precursor to filing a legal discrimination claim under state civil rights law.
Additionally, the ACLU of Iowa contends with state authorities through an April lawsuit, which challenges the withholding or redaction of records sought relating to the Temple’s display, citing executive privilege. This stems from the Temple’s claim that the denial of their application leaned on baseless allegations about potential obscenity and violence, given their event’s family-centric focus.
Founded in 2013 and based in Salem, Massachusetts, the Satanic Temple identifies as a “non-theistic religious organization” dedicated to secular advocacy, distinguishing itself from the era-established Church of Satan. The Temple is contesting the explanation provided by Steen, who cited concerns about costumes at their event potentially having malicious implications for minors, calling it an “absurd, unfounded concern.”
The complaint forthrightly claims that Iowa’s refusal to host the Satanic Temple’s event emphasizes a lack of equal access to the Iowa State Capitol compared to other religious groups, specifically during the holiday season, which heavily highlights Christian traditions. The group argues that this reveals a bias in offering public space access, contradicting their rights to religious expression and broadening the scope of religious inclusivity.