Observers have said that a Chinese court has sentenced a college professor to prison for organizing a group sex club, sparking a debate on civil liberties.

Xinhua news agency reported on Friday that the court in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing handed down a guilty verdict and sentenced Ma Yohai, 53, to 3 1/2 years in prison.

Ma and 22 other defendants were charged with holding group sex encounters at the professor's home.

Xinhua further said that at the trial, 18 other members of the online swingers' club were sentenced to terms of up to 2 1/2 years.

He would appeal the conviction amid calls from supporters for the charge of "group licentiousness" to be dropped, Ma said.

Ma also said that his club, which had 190 members, consisted of consenting adults who "disturbed no one." (With Inputs from Agencies)