Iowa’s Capitol May Have a Very Krampus Christmas After the Satanic Temple’s Latest Legal Win

A federal judge has ordered Iowa officials to approve The Satanic Temple’s application to hold a holiday event in the state Capitol on 12 December. The ruling says the group is likely to succeed in arguing that officials discriminated against its religious viewpoint, making the case a test of how public buildings accommodate competing expressions during holiday displays.

The department had rejected earlier applications over concerns that a Krampus costume contest could be harmful to children and that costume props might pose a danger. Judge Stephanie Rose said the decision targeted one perspective on the holiday and noted officials had not assessed whether the sticks were actually dangerous; the Capitol also has security measures. The planned event includes ornament-making, colouring and the contest, unless state officials successfully appeal. In March, the Temple also won a case in Arkansas that led to the removal of a Ten Commandments monument after officials declined to display its Baphomet statue.