Abstract

The main factor in middle-eastern radicalization process is the prevalence of extremists’ ideologies which have come to spread faster than a few decades ago around the world. Previous studies have focused on identification and clarification the factors contributing in expansion of such ideologies. However, there is a need to understand the prevalence of these ideologies among other Middle East nations such as Iran. The participants consisted of 325 Iranian denominations including Muslims, Zoroastrian, Bahia, Ahl-e-Haq and Non-believers who completed the Assessment and Treatment of Radicalization Scale (ATRS). The results demonstrated higher scores on the prevalence of the extreme Middle-Eastern ideologies among the Muslims (Sunni and Shia), Zoroastrian, Bahia participants than Non-believers and Ahl-e-Haq participants on the total scale of ATRS. Also there were higher scores on the all subscales of ATRS among Muslims (Sunni and Shia), Zoroastrian, Bahia than Non-believers. The results of this study confirmed the higher prevalence of extreme Middle-Eastern beliefs among Iranian religious ideologies than non-believers and Ahl-e-Haqs. This finding suggests prioritizing the future policies on education of all groups and specifically Muslims in Iran to understand and explore the actual consequences of their individual world-views and their ideological orientations.