The Finnish government has granted an export license for 36 Patria mortar systems to be shipped to Saudi Arabia, the government-controlled arms maker said in a statement Thursday.
Patria added that, together with 1,440 ammunition storage tubes and spare parts, the deal was worth 100 million euros.
Four ministers, including Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja (soc dem), voted against granting the permit.
A number of human rights groups and parties have raised concern about the arms deal.
Heidi Hautala (green), the international development minister, and Ville Niinistö (green), the environment minister, condemned the permit, saying Saudi Arabia was a dictatorship where political parties were not tolerated, people tortured by the authorities and killed for practicing their religion.
“By exporting arms to Saudi Arabia, Finland gives a signal to the effect that human rights violations and dictatorship are acceptable courses of action that Finland is ready to support through arms deals,” Hautala and Niinistö said.
“Saudi Arabia is considered to be one of the most undemocratic countries in the world,” the Left Alliance Youth said in a statement.
“The country is a theocracy and a dictatorship in which party activity is banned.”
