Ethiopian marathoner Feyisa Lilesa says going home 'means suicide' after Olympic political protest
On the final day of the Rio Olympics, Ethiopian marathoner Feyisa Lilesa became a silver medalist. Lilesa crossed the finish line with arms raised above his head, and crossed over each other, as in an "X" — a political gesture instantly recognized in Ethiopia.
Lilesa says the symbol of defiance was a peaceful protest against how the Oromo people of Ethiopia have been treated by the government. Close to 100 people were slaughtered in a protest just weeks before the Olympics.
Since his protest on the world's stage, Lilesa tells The Current's Anna Maria Tremonti through a translator that he's worried about his safety if he were to return home.
"Having done this, going back to Ethiopia means suicide. They will kill me. If not killing, they will imprison me and torture me," says Lilesa who is still in Rio.
Lilesa feels it is important to stand up publicly and expose the repression of the Oromo people by the Ethiopian government. He tells Tremonti that "people are dying, being killed, being sent to refugee camps… many thousands were in the red sea running away from the country. People were having peaceful demonstrations but being killed."
Daily peaceful demonstrations in Ethiopia forced Lilesa to think about how he could protest in solidarity. During the last three months of training, he was determined to do something if he made it to the podium.
"If God helps me to be on the stage, if I win than I would do this opposition and show to the world my people's determination to [get rid] of this government." Lilesa tells Tremonti.
Lilesa was aware his political gesture could risk possibly losing his medal but says he didn't care.
"What I care most is for my people — the human rights violation in my country.
Listen to the full conversation at the top of this web post.
Canada's Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development Karina Gould met with Ethiopian Government officials last week, and according to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, she called Ethiopia a "sea of stability in a hostile region." Gould was not available for an interview, but her office sent a statement saying, in part:
"This was a commentary in passing and in no way a judgement on the stability of Ethiopia. Ms. Gould discussed Ethiopia's relative stability in an unstable neighbourhood and she went on to raise Canada's concerns and encourage the government of Ethiopia to peacefully engage with its citizens during this time of internal unrest."
This segment was produced by Liz Hoath, Kristin Nelson and Pacinthe Mattar.