The Satanic Temple Iowa has filed a complaint accusing state officials of religious discrimination after being denied permission to hold a holiday display and event at the Iowa State Capitol in December 2024. The group says this refusal violated their constitutional and civil rights.
Their holiday display gained national attention last year when a man destroyed their installation featuring the horned deity Baphomet, which had been allowed alongside Christmas decorations in the Capitol rotunda. However, their request for a similar event this year was rejected.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds explained the decision by citing concerns about the impact on children and families who frequently visit the Capitol. She stated that the Satanic event was denied because it targeted minors in a harmful way.
The complaint, filed with Iowa’s civil rights office by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Iowa on behalf of Mortimer Adramelech, minister of Satan for the local Satanic Temple, argues that the state’s denial was unjustified. The complaint challenges claims made by Adam Steen, director of the Department of Administrative Services, that the proposed event included costumes with sticks that could be weapons and was potentially harmful to children. The Satanic Temple maintains their event was family-friendly and calls these concerns “absurd” and unfounded.
The complaint also points to internal records indicating that the governor’s office and Steen were coordinating their response while the application was under review. The Satanic Temple alleges the state is denying them equal access to the Capitol compared to more mainstream religions, particularly Christianity, especially during the Christmas season.
Founded in 2013 and based in Salem, Massachusetts, The Satanic Temple identifies as a non-theistic religious group advocating for secularism, distinct from the Church of Satan. The ACLU hopes this complaint will lead state officials to reconsider their decision and grant the group equal rights to use the public space for their event.
