ETHIOPIA’S THIN LINE BETWEEN PRAISE AND PERSECUTION

It took less than five seconds for Ethiopia’s Olympic medalist, Feyisa Lilesa, to go from national hero to despised traitor. “If I go back to Ethiopia maybe they will kill me. If not kill me, they will put me in prison, he said after his “traitorous act.” One may assume that Lilesa had committed a crime as heinous as treason or murder to warrant such punishment. Quite far from it, the Olympian’s offence was that on Sunday, as he clinched the Silver medal at the Brazil Olympics he raised his hand X shape in solidarity with protesters in his homeland many of whom have been imprisoned, tortured or killed. Ethiopia’s state broadcaster did not air a replay of Lilesa’s triumphant finish; it is the least of the backlash that he may end up facing from the country for whom he has had just put on the Olympic medal platform......See More