Waleed Abulkhair

RIYADH — An appeals court in Saudi Arabia has upheld a 15-year jail term for a human rights lawyer who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, a watchdog said Wednesday.

The Specialized Criminal Court of Appeal, which hears terrorism cases, confirmed on Sunday the latest verdict against Waleed Abulkhair, said the Gulf Center for Human Rights.

Abulkhair was convicted last July on a series of charges including “inciting public opinion.” In January, another court ordered Abulkhair to serve the full 15 years of his sentence, a ruling upheld by the latest decision.

The Gulf Center for Human Rights, which has offices in Beirut and Copenhagen, said Abulkhair was transferred on Feb. 4 from a prison in his home city of Jeddah to one in the capital Riyadh.

“It’s believed that his refusal to recognize the legitimacy of the trial court, in addition to not giving an apology to the court, were the reasons behind his recent transfer,” the center said on its website.

Abulkhair was the lawyer for Saudi blogger Raef Badawi who is serving 10 years in jail and has been sentenced to 1,000 lashes for insulting Islam.

A Norwegian parliamentarian nominated Badawi and Abulkhair for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.