Using one’s left hand while eating is not desirable, Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs, or Diyanet, said on its official website on Feb. 3, warning that "demons eat and drink with their left hand.", Hürriyet Daily News reported.
"Establishing general principles regarding eating and drinking, the Prophet Muhammad did not regard eating with the left hand as pleasant," the Diyanet said in response to a question on eating habits.
"Indeed, he attached great importance to this issue and warned his community that demons eat and drink using their left hand. He, therefore, advised children to only use their right hand when they eat or drink," it added.
The Diyanet was "flexible" for people with physical disabilities, saying it was OK for them to use their left hand for eating or drinking if necessary.
Diyanet operates under the Office of the Prime Minister. Its fatwas often raise eyebrows in Turkey. "Girls could become pregnant at the age of 9, and boys could become a father when they turned 12," Diyanet said in January. Diyanet budget surpassed most of the governmental institutions, including critical ministries such as health and interior ministries.
