US city council opens with ‘Hail Satan’ prayer (VIDEO)

A city council meeting in the US state of Iowa has been at the centre of controversy after it began with a Satanic invocation.

According to reports, the invocation, which was given by a local resident, ended with the words 'Hail Satan', sparking outrage among some attendees.

The incident has been reported by RT, a Russian state-owned news agency, which claims that the invocation was given by a local resident and was part of a tradition of allowing community members to give opening prayers at council meetings.

The report states that the invocation was given by a local resident, but does not provide further details about the individual or their motivations.

The controversy has been met with a call from a local pastor to 'reverse this curse', although it is unclear what this means in the context of the situation.

The incident has sparked debate about the role of religion in public life and the limits of free speech in a public forum.

The city council meeting was reportedly attended by a number of community members, including the local pastor who made the call to 'reverse this curse'.

The incident has been widely reported in the media, with some outlets expressing outrage at the use of the Satanic invocation and others defending the right of the community member to give the prayer.

The controversy is ongoing, with no clear resolution in sight.

The incident highlights the complex and often contentious nature of issues surrounding religion and free speech in public life.