Rio Olympics 2016: Feyisa Lilesa is afraid Ethopia's government might kill him after protest

Feyisa Lilesa crossed his arms above his head in an "X" as he finished the gruelling event as a protest against the Ethiopian government's crackdown on political dissent. Photo / AP

Ethiopia's Feyisa Lilesa marked his silver medal in the Olympic Games men's marathon on Sunday by staging a dramatic protest against his country's government, claiming his life could be in peril.

Lilesa, who was second to Kenyan favourite Eliud Kipchoge, crossed his arms above his head in an "X" as he finished the gruelling event as a protest against the Ethiopian government's crackdown on political dissent.

"I have relatives in prison back home," he said.

"If you talk about democracy they kill you. If I go back to Ethiopia maybe they will kill me, or put me in prison.

"It is very dangerous in my country. Maybe I have to go to another country. I was protesting for people everywhere who have no freedom."

Human rights groups say that Ethiopian security forces have killed scores of people in recent weeks as authorities crack down on a wave of anti-government unrest in two key regions, central-western Oromia and Amhara in the north.

BBC World TV presenter Piers Edwards called the protest an "extraordinary moment", while the Washington Post's Kevin Sieff said on Twitter it was "the bravest act of the 2016 Olympics". Plenty of others took to social media to praise the Ethiopian.

Extraordinary moment. Feyisa Lilesa: "If not kill me, they will put me in prison. Maybe I will move country" #ETH https://t.co/TsbTpMWkRR

— Piers Edwards (@piers_e) August 21, 2016

This is the equivalent of the 1968 Black Power salute in Mexico City, but riskier. If he returns to Ethiopia, Lilesa could be jailed.

— Kevin Sieff (@ksieff) August 21, 2016

#FeyisaLilesa used the biggest stage of his life to express a muzzled generational cry for freedom. He spoke without words. #courage

— Mohammed Ademo (@OPride) August 21, 2016

Feyisa Lilesa just made the biggest sacrifice by showing the sign of resistance. Our Hero. #OromoProtests pic.twitter.com/UmrSGEqazE

— Solome (@Solitti) August 21, 2016

Someone hug Feyisa Lilesa for me. Who took #OromoProtests #EthiopiaProtests to Rio? #Rio2016 #mensmarathon

— SelamawitA Bekele (@selseladu) August 21, 2016

Feyisa Lilesa has celebrated his silver medal by showing the resistance sign. RESPECT!!! #Rio2016

— Fisseha Tegegn (@fisseha_tegegn) August 21, 2016

Lilesa finished the marathon in a time of two hours, nine minutes and 54 seconds, but after the race, had no interest in talking about his sensational performance.

The 26-year-old is Oromo, making him part of the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia. Protests have broken out in recent months over the government's plan to expand the capital of Addis Ababa and reallocate land in Oromo, which would displace much of the population.

"The Ethiopian government is killing the Oromo people and taking their land and resources so the Oromo people are protesting and I support the protest as I am Oromo," Lilesa told the press.

"Oromo is my tribe ... Oromo people now protest what is right, for peace, for a place.

"In the last nine months, more than 1,000 people died.

"And others charged with treason. It's a very dangerous situation among Oromo people in Ethiopia."

According to the Washington Post, Ethiopia's state broadcaster did not air footage of Lilesa finishing the marathon.