Sudan government closes Iranian cultural centers
CAIRO - Sudan announced Tuesday it closed the Iranian cultural center in the capital and other branches, saying the establishment violated its mandate and became a social and ideological threat to the largely Sunni country.
The official statement by Foreign Ministry spokesman Youssef al-Kordofani came a day after local media reported the Iranian center was shut in the capital, Khartoum.
Al-Kordofani said the Iranian cultural consular in Khartoum and the center's staff were given 72 hours to leave Sudan. He said the top Iranian diplomat in Khartoum was informed of the decision, which came after the government closely monitored activities of the Iranian center and its branches.
His statement, carried by Sudan's official news agency, suggests Sudan is concerned over the spread of Shiite Islam in the largely Sunni country.
