Indonesian Muslim Leader Wants to Ban Starbucks Because It's Pro-LGBT

The head of Indonesia's second-largest Muslim organization wants the nation to revoke licenses on all Starbucks coffeehouses because the chain supports LGBT rights.

Anwar Abbas, the head of the 30-million strong Muhammadiyah Muslim organization, told Reuters that, "If Starbucks only does business, then fine. But don't bring ideology here."

An executive at the company that operates Starbucks in Indonesia told The Independent it "always obeys the prevailing regulations and appreciates the cultural values in Indonesia."

Abbas started his campaign against Starbucks after he became aware of the 2013 statements of Starbucks's chairman, Howard Schultz. Operating as CEO at the time, Schultz famously told a shareholder he could sell his stock if he disagreed with the company's decision to publicly support marriage equality.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation, though homosexuality is only illegal in the Aceh province. The situation for LGBT people is worsening in Aceh, with two young men recently caned -- as crowds cheered on -- for consensual contact.