The Effect of religious Minority Exclusivism on the National Security of the Islamic Republic (with a focus on the Role of Salafism)

Religious Minority Exclusivism is one of the gravest threats to the country’s national security. It is defined as a specific approach of religious minority sectarianism which is based on the significance of religious identity and politicization of religious minority in the society. By its special endeavors and particular ideological background, the movement polarizes the society and destroys the national integrity by challenging the national identity. In order to explain the issue systematically and analytically, this paper, initially, does a study of the national defense of the Islamic Republic by using the framework of comprehensive model of soft and hard security. Then, it explains the effects of Deoband School extremist groups’ activities, as an active Salafi movement in the country, on the national security as well as its implications for it.