Emma Kinery

USA TODAY

Corrections and clarifications: A previous headline accompanying this story misidentified Freedom From Religion Foundation’s affiliation.

In the wake of a decision by University of Iowa officials to open two prayer rooms for Muslim students, one atheist organization — not affiliated with the university — is responding with legal action.

The group, Freedom From Religion Foundation, argues that Iowa's decision is unconstitutional because it violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment by aiding one specific identity group. In addition, the FFRF is requesting that the University remove the Latin cross from the alter of the non-denominational chapel on campus.

"State-run colleges have a constitutional obligation to not endorse, advance, or aid religion," FFRF attorney Patrick Elliott wrote in a letter to University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld. "When a government entity like the University of Iowa creates prayer areas for specific religions and imposes religious rules upon students (removing shoes, segregating men and women), it has unconstitutionally entangled itself with religion. The university finds itself in a position where it must either sponsor and endorse the tenets of a religion by allowing it to impose religious rules, or dictate to religious students which tenets they are allowed to follow on university property."

The FFRF is a national organization based in Madison, Wis. which frequently calls into question the place of religion in public institutions, such as schools. While it does not have a chapter at the University of Iowa, its website shows that the organization has almost 200 members in the state.

“We request that the University close the room designated for Muslim prayer and remove Christian iconography from Danforth Chapel, including the Latin cross,” Elliott also wrote to Harreld.

In February, the Muslim Student Association at the University of Iowa advocated for the establishment of two prayer rooms on campus. Two rooms in the Iowa Memorial Union were given as temporary spaces for prayer.

Gada Al-Herz of the University of Iowa Muslim Student Association tells USA TODAY College that the organization believes they have the right to have prayer rooms on campus, the rooms are open to be used by any students regardless of faith and does not believe the existence of the spaces pushes religion onto any other students.

“While we find it unfortunate that they feel negatively about about having a safe space for students on campus to meditate, we appreciate their dedication to upholding the U.S. Constitution. However, we find that the the existence of the prayer and meditation spaces at the University of Iowa to be completely within the boundaries of the U.S. Constitution, and believe that some misunderstandings are clouding the judgement of onlookers in this situation,” Al-Herz says.

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The FFRF is upset the prayer rooms are separated by gender as well. Al-Herz said this was more of a matter of the space than gender, as the University was unable to supply a singular large room.

“While many Muslim women do prefer to pray in separate spaces from men, we see this decision as regardless of religious preferences, and simply a matter of accommodation and convenience,” Al-Herz said. “It is also necessary to point out that gender segregation is not enforced, and use of the two rooms is open to all genders.”

Media Relations Manager Anne Bassett tells USA TODAY College the rooms can be used for any purpose and by any organization at the school.

“The new temporary space for prayer and meditation in the Iowa Memorial Union was requested by students of the Muslim faith, but is open to all students,” Bassett says. “The IMU policy provides space for registered student organizations, regardless of the mission of the organization, be it academic, programming, service, political or religious.”



Emma Kinery is a University of Michigan student and a USA TODAY College correspondent.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.