'The Beijing Xicheng court sentenced her to two years in prison this morning,' husband Dong Jiqin told AFP.

'They... refused to accept the evidence and arguments that I had prepared.' More than 10 family members and friends had obtained passes to attend the open hearing, but at the last minute the court only allowed Ni's daughter to enter the courtroom, he said.

'My daughter said her mother was very very thin... and she was very weak,' Mr Dong said.

Ni, 47, is a long-time campaigner against government-backed land grabs and had organised evicted residents to protest against what they said were the 'illegal forceful eviction and demolition of homes.'

Such 'land-grab' cases are one of the most sensitive social problems in China, with ordinary people nationwide accusing local officials of enriching themselves through collusion with developers in lucrative real estate deals.

Courtyard homes around Ni's house in Beijing's Xinjiekou area were demolished years ago to make way for government and commercial buildings, as well as apartment blocks.

She was then arrested in April and charged with harming public property over a dispute with government authorities that occurred while she tried to stop her home from being demolished.

Last month, their home was destroyed. -- AFP