The bronze statue of a goat-headed winged creature called Baphomet was erected in Little Rock of Arkansas, US. Satan worshippers turned out to cheer the unveiling the idol on August 16.
The Satanic Temple organisation arranged a rally outside the Arkansas State Capitol building to protest a Ten Commandments monument already on the grounds, reports The Independent.
Although the striking, eight-and-a-half foot tall icon was only allowed to be on display temporarily, Satanists argued they should be allowed to erect the winged goat effigy on a permanent basis under freedom of religion rights outlined in the US constitution.
Satanic Arkansas cofounder Ivy Forrester, one of the rally organisers, said: “If you’re going to have one religious monument up then it should be open to others, and if you don’t agree with that then let’s just not have any at all.”
‘Religious discrimination’
The Satanic Temple has attempted to sue the state of Arkansas over its own monument, citing religious discrimination, reports The Independent.
Atheists also turned up at the rally at the grounds of the state capitol building.
About 150 people attended the rally in Little Rock. A smaller group of Christian counter protesters stood nearby, holding signs with Bible verses and singing hymns.
#HailBaphomet pic.twitter.com/GCzpO80I0B
— Sadie Satanas (@SadieSatanas) August 17, 2018
The rally was mainly peaceful, but police did escort one yelling counter protester away from the speakers’ stage.
The display inspired a counter protest by Christian activists, while a leading Republican politician in the American state condemned the Satanic icon as “offensive.”
The Ten Commandments monument was first put up last year after a bill sponsored by Republican senator Jason Rapert was passed.
According to The Independent, Rapert said he respected the Satanic protesters’ rights to practice their religion, but also described them as “extremists.”
