A “clash of civilisations” between the West and the Islamic world would erupt if Donald Trump wins the US presidential election, a senior Arab Gulf security official has said.
In the latest sign of disquiet in the Middle East over the Republican presidential frontrunner’s comments about Muslims, Lt Gen Dhahi Khalfan Tamim suggested a Trump victory would result in a face-off with Isis and its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Lt Gen Tamim, Dubai’s deputy chairman of police and security, tweeted after Mr Trump declined to row back on his recent statement that “Islam hates the West” during Thursday’s Republican debate in Miami.
Mr Trump said during the debate that to do so would be bowing to the forces of political correctness.
Referring to political scientist Samuel P Huntington's theory that future wars would be fought between cultures, Lt Gen Tamim wrote: "If Trump beats Hillary [Clinton], that means that the scenario of the clash of civilizations created by Samuel will come to light at the hands of the candidate and al-Baghdadi.”
Trump has for years looked to do business in the Middle East, especially in emirates including Dubai. Trump has lent his name to two high-profile Dubai golf course projects and a real estate development, and sought to expand his hotel chain into the region.
There has been a backlash in the Middle East since Mr Trump pledged in December to temporarily ban all Muslims from entering the United states, should he become president.
A Middle East company, the Dubai-based Landmark Group, said it would pull all Trump home decor products at its 180 Lifestyle stores in the region as it "values and respects the sentiments of its customers”.
Newspaper columns and editorials in the region have also been roundly critical of the candidate’s comments.
