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September 1, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese authorities on Monday ordered the closure of the Iranian Cultural Center in the capital Khartoum and other states, Sudan Tribune has learned.

FILE - Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir (L) and the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran June 26, 2011 (FARS)

The Iranian cultural attaché and the staff at the center were also asked to leave the country within 72 hours.

The government has not issued any official explanation for the abrupt move but the Foreign Ministry today summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires and informed him of the decision.

The move contrasts sharply with warm political ties between Khartoum and Tehran which has angered Arab Gulf states particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and led to strained relations with them.

Some press reports have suggested that the Sudanese government’s decision was motivated by warnings made by religious circles as well as the media about the spread of Shiite ideology among Sudanese youngsters after the intensification of activities by the office of the Iranian cultural attaché in Khartoum.

A radical jihadist group under the name of “Hamza Group for Preaching and Jihad” issued a statement last month threatening the former managing director of Kenana Sugar Company Mohamed El-Mardi Tijani and religious cleric al-Nayel Abu-Guroon after accusing them of promoting the Shiite sect.

The Egyptian media figure Ahmad al-Maslamani stirred a controversy last month after talking on his show about the spread of Shiite ideology in Sudan through the Iranian Embassy in Khartoum, adding that the number of Shiite followers in the Sunni dominated country reached 12,000 people mostly from university students who attend weekly workshops held by the cultural attaché of Iran.

Al-Maslamani argued that Sudan is moving in the way of danger as a result, because the spread of Shiite ideology in Sudan creates an internal discord.

He played a YouTube video of a Kuwaiti Shiite cleric by the name of Yasser Al-Habib speaking about how Shiite in Sudan are persecuted and called for revolting against president Omer Hassan al-Bashir.

(ST)