Marathoner has nothing to fear after Olympic protest

Ethiopia's Feyisa Lilesa crossed his arms above his head at the finish line of the Men's Marathon event as a protest against the Ethiopian government's crackdown on political dissent on August 21

 Olympic marathon runner Feyisa Lilesa has nothing to fear because of a protest gesture he displayed as he crossed the finish line, Ethiopia's communication minister said Monday.

Lilesa won a silver medal Sunday with his arms crossed over his head in a sign of solidarity for his native Oromo people  the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia.

 

Lilesa said he wanted to draw attention to the government's ongoing persecution of the Oromos, but he feared that his protest had put himself into such danger that he can't go home.

Ethiopia's Communications Minister Getachew Reda described Lilesa as "an Ethiopian hero," saying he "shouldn't at all be worried" to return.

 

Lilesa said he feared he would be killed or imprisoned. Some of his family members are already in prison, he said, and he said he's worried about the safety of his wife and two children.

In response, Reda said it's "a bit of a stretch to assume that your loved ones will be at risk because you have made one gesture or another. I can assure you nothing is going to happen to his family nothing is going to happen to him."

 

Before Reda's response, Lilesa said he may stay in Brazil or go to Kenya or the United States, depending on whether he can obtain a visa for those moves.