(Sep 12, 2016, (The Independent))--A runner has become the latest Ethiopian athlete to stage a political protest in Rio, after he crossed the finish line in a 1500m event at the Paralympics.
Tamiru Demisse, who was competing in the final of the T13 race for visually impaired runners, crossed his arms above his head as he crossed the line in second place, taking silver behind Algeria’s Abdellatif Baka. similar gesture made by Feyisa Lilesa at the end of the marathon event in the Olympics.
Unlike Feyisa, who was reminded by officials that the International Olympic Committee frowns upon political gestures at the Games, Tamiru also repeated the gesture during the ceremony to receive his medal. Last month, Feyisa explained that he he conducted his protest in response to the killing of the Oromo people, saying the government was “killing our people”.
He has now travelled to the US, after a crowd-funding campaign to support him and his family raised its target of $150,000. He said if he returned to Ethiopia “they will kill me… or if not kill me, they will put me in prison”. Read more from »
Tamiru Demisse, who was competing in the final of the T13 race for visually impaired runners, crossed his arms above his head as he crossed the line in second place, taking silver behind Algeria’s Abdellatif Baka. similar gesture made by Feyisa Lilesa at the end of the marathon event in the Olympics.
Unlike Feyisa, who was reminded by officials that the International Olympic Committee frowns upon political gestures at the Games, Tamiru also repeated the gesture during the ceremony to receive his medal. Last month, Feyisa explained that he he conducted his protest in response to the killing of the Oromo people, saying the government was “killing our people”.
He has now travelled to the US, after a crowd-funding campaign to support him and his family raised its target of $150,000. He said if he returned to Ethiopia “they will kill me… or if not kill me, they will put me in prison”. Read more from »
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