Six US prisoners have sued authorities to be allowed to see the year’s biggest astronomic event, a total solar eclipse on April 8.
The inmates argued in a court filing that their right to religious freedom would be violated if the New York state prison service upheld a planned penitentiary lockdown during the eclipse.
“Eclipses, like the one on April 8, are recognized by various religions as special events that warrant gathering, celebration, worship, and prayer,” said the submission lodged on March 29.
“(The inmates) have each expressed a sincerely held religious belief that April’s solar eclipse is a religious event.”
New York’s Department of Corrections said in an advisory issued last week that “for facilities in the path of totality, visitation will be canceled.”
The path of totality is the area under which the Moon will fully block out the Sun.
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