7 Jul 2017

Malaysian, Indonesian Muslim Groups Boycott Starbucks Over LGBT Stance

Conservative groups in both countries are calling for boycott to protest international coffee chain's support for LGBT equality.

A 700,000 member Malay Muslim group Perkasa has said it agreed with calls this week by Muhammadiyah, a large Muslim group in Indonesia, for a boycott of Starbucks over its stance on LGBT equality.

Both Perkasa and Muhammadiyah have called for Starbucks' operating licences in their respective countries to be revoked and Muhammadiyah's call for a boycott has gained support from the Indonesia's top clerical body.

Opposition to Starbucks arose after a 2013 video of a former Starbucks CEO making pro-equality comments went viral.

Amini Amir Abdullah, who heads Perkasa's Islamic affairs bureau, said Starbucks' position challenged Malaysia's constitution, which recognised Islam as the country's official religion, according to Reuters.

"Our objection is because they are promoting something that is against the human instinct, against human behaviour and against religion. That's why we are against it," Amini told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.