Dr Saleh Al-Ojairi

KUWAIT: Renowned Kuwaiti astronomer and meteorologist Dr Saleh Al-Ojairi is alive and well despite rumors that stated that he passed away, the Kuwait Science Club (KSC) confirmed yesterday. Reports speculating Ojairi’s death went viral on social media since late Thursday night, and even became a trending topic on Twitter early Friday morning.

Kathem Jum’ah, Assistant Secretary General of KSC, said that he contacted KSC’s honorary chairman Ojairi and confirmed that he is okay. He further urged social media users to abstain from spreading unverified news, and show respect to a scholar in Ojairi’s status.

Ojairi, 95, is credited for introducing astronomy and meteorology to Kuwait, where he built the country’s first observatory in the early 1970s.

The Ojairi Calendar, first issued in 1952, is considered the most authentic and used calendar in Kuwait to follow dates and prayer times. He also has several publications, researches and a library named after him.

It is worth mentioning that this is not the first time in which rumors on Ojairi’s death spread on social media on April 1st, also known as ‘April Fool’s Day.’