Why the Muslim world should boycott Donald Trump

The leading Republican contender for the United States presidency is a hideous reflection of what a minority of the U.S. values. Trump’s nonsensical speeches – more accurately described as word salad – have never touched on any one issue in a remotely meaningful manner.

Meanwhile, his racist and sexist tirades – including against female journalists, Muslims and Mexicans – continue unabated. So deeply disturbing are Trump’s egregious remarks and behavior, that he has triggered concerns that the damage he has done to the Republican Party will be long lasting.

What at one time seemed like a circus-act joke of a campaign has spiralled into a dark reality. America should be fearful that, not only may Trump actually become the GOP nominee, but that his campaign and the enduring support it has received reveals something ugly about us.

Insane policy

In a press release, his campaign indicated that he is “calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on.”

This insane policy initiative – which would reportedly apply to Muslim Americans currently abroad – has not yet had the negative effect on Trump’s campaign that it should have. It is difficult to envision a more anti-American – not to mention unconstitutional – policy than to call for the exclusion of U.S. citizens based on their religion. Moreover, the fact that this would ostensibly apply to Muslim American troops – or at the very least utterly insult them – is further proof Trump does not deserve to be anywhere near the White House. When a leading political figure publicly states something as sinister about a minority group as, “We’re going to have to do things that we never did before,” the U.S. should listen and act to prevent it.

Meanwhile, Trump’s rise to political prominence has not just wreaked havoc domestically. This week he reportedly vowed to visit the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, an intentionally provocative move, only to then say he would reschedule the trip to Israel at a later date. Notably, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement condemning Trump’s remarks against Muslims, noting that the PM “rejects” Trump’s comments about Muslims and that “the State of Israel respects all religions and strictly guarantees the rights of all its citizens.”

Petty retorts

The quick criticism may have triggered the cancellation of his visit. In yet another embarrassing moment for the U.S., Trump quarreled via Twitter with Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who had called him “a disgrace not only to the GOP but to all America.” Trump responded, calling him “dopey”.

Such a petty retort is unlikely to have any broad implications but underscores the fact that Trump is likely to continue embarrassing the entire nation – while representing the GOP – in both domestic and foreign circles.

As sane U.S. citizens attempt to prevent this train wreck from continuing at home, the Arab world should halt all business deals with Trump.

The Financial Times reported that in addition to highly lucrative income from his brand in Turkey and Azerbaijan, he is currently developing at least two properties in Dubai.

That Trump should continue to benefit from the millions of Muslims living and frequenting such sites – while calling to bar them from travelling to the U.S. and discriminating against other Muslims domestically – is unacceptable.

Preventing Trump from profiting off the very people he is threatening and disparaging should be a collective effort - at least until we can “figure out what is going on.”

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Brooklyn Middleton is an American Political and Security Risk Analyst currently based in New York City. She has previously written about U.S. President Obama's policy in Syria as well as Bashar al-Assad's continued crimes against his own people. She recently finished her MA thesis on Ayatollah Khomeini’s influence on the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, completing her Master's degree in Middle Eastern Studies. You can follow her on Twitter here: @BklynMiddleton.