Do people in the middle east eat horse meat?

Horse meat is generally not consumed in most Middle Eastern countries due to cultural and religious preferences. In Islam, which is the predominant religion in the Middle East, the consumption of horse meat is considered "makruh," meaning discouraged but not explicitly forbidden. This view is derived from various interpretations of hadith (oral traditions of the Prophet Muhammad).

However, there are some exceptions to this general trend. In Kyrgyzstan, which is a Turkic nation located in Central Asia, horse meat is a traditional delicacy and is widely consumed. It is also worth noting that in certain rural areas of some Middle Eastern countries, there may be local communities or nomadic groups that have traditionally included horse meat in their diet.

Overall, while it is rare, there are limited exceptions where horse meat is considered and acceptable part of people's diet in some part of the Middle East. However, it is a far less common meat source compared to other meats like lamb, beef, or chicken.