CAIRO, June 19 (Aswat Masriya) - The Fayoum Criminal Court sentenced in absentia six Muslim Brotherhood supporters to eight years in prison on Thursday for rallying and hindering the voting process in a constitutional referendum.

The court acquitted a seventh defendant who was present in court at the time of the verdict.

Of all the defendants, Adel Mohamed Abdel Hadi, a 37-year-old teacher, was the only one who attended the court session.

The six other defendants were sentenced to five years for joining a banned group that was recently labelled terrorist, and three years for obstructing the voting process.

All seven defendants were charged with cutting the road, protesting at the polling stations, terrorising citizens to prevent them from casting their votes, and belonging to a terrorist group, a judicial source said.

On 14 and 15 January 2014, supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Fayoum staged demonstrations and marches across the city to hinder the referendum.