Saudi cleric says Earth does not revolve

A SAUDI cleric has prompted ridicule after rejecting the theory that the Earth revolves around the sun in a bizarre video.

A SAUDI cleric has prompted ridicule after rejecting the theory that the Earth revolves around the sun in a strange video.

Sheik Bandar al-Khaibari provided a bizarre response when asked by a student whether the Earth was stationary or moving. The sheik replied: “stationary and does not move”.

His response gets even more confusing as he tries to expand on his statement, in a video posted on Al Arabiya News.

“First of all, where are we now? We go to Sharjah airport to travel to China by plane, clear? Focus with me, this is Earth,” he said, holding up a sealed cup of water.

“If you say that it rotates, if we leave Sharjah airport on an international flight to China.

“The Earth is rotating, right? So if the plane stops still on air, wouldn’t China be coming towards it? True or not?

“If the Earth rotates on the other direction, the plane will not be able to reach China, because China is also rotating as the plane rotates.”

The video of his comments has sparked ridicule online with Twitter users posting using the hashtag #cleric_rejects_rotation_of_Earth.

#cleric_rejects_rotation_of_Earth made so laugh must be joke hello we are in 21st century they have proved that long time ago sorry u late!

— Eren (@CookKnife) February 17, 2015

#داعية_ينفي_دوران_الأرض What a coincidence that this would occur on Galileo's birthday!

— Häyät Al-Ma'arri⚛ (@TheBoominati) February 15, 2015

#cleric_rejects_rotation_of_Earth Rotation is a need!

— Ahmet Salt TARIMCI (@AhmetTarimci_en) February 17, 2015