The Minya Criminal Court sentenced 16 men to 18 years in prison on Tuesday for blocking roads, disrupting the constitutional referendum and joining a banned group.
The incident occurred on 14 January 2014 as Egyptians voted to approve a new constitution. The defendants were ordered to also pay a fine of EGP 135,000 each. Another defendant in the case was sentenced to five and a half years and a fine of EGP 20,000 for disrupting the constitutional referendum.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s activities were banned in November 2013 and the group was declared a terrorist organisation by the cabinet in December 2013.
16 others were sentenced to three years in prison at the end of June for attending an illegal protest in Heliopolis and disrupting the referendum.
The constitution was approved in a landslide vote following two days of polling, which saw at least 444 people arrested for disrupting proceedings.
Supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi opposed the holding of the referendum and called for a boycott, branding the poll as illegitimate.
