Iran shutters education centre over ‘inciting riots’

Iranian authorities have shuttered an educational centre accused of "inciting riots" during last year's mass demonstrations triggered by the death in custody of a young woman, state media reported yesterday.

Nationwide protests rocked Iran following the September death of a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, Mahsa Amini, in police custody after her arrest over violating the Islamic republic's strict dress code.

"We prepared and issued a warrant for the closure of Gaj centre following the directive of the minister of education," state news agency IRNA quoted Ahmad Mahmoudzadeh, head of Iran's non-governmental schools, as saying.

Mahmoudzadeh said Gaj had " incited riots" during a Persian literature exam for students, without elaborating.