Protesting marathoner fears government backlash, official labels him hero

The Ethiopian marathon runner who held up his arms in protest of injustice in his country is afraid he'll be punished for it, but a government official says the Olympian has nothing to worry about.

After claiming the silver medal in the marathon Sunday at Rio 2016, Feyisa Lilesa formed an 'X', the same gesture used by other members of the Oromo tribe, which has been targeted in mass killings by the Ethiopian government for months.

"The Ethiopian government is killing my people, so I stand with all protests anywhere, as Oromo is my tribe," Lilesa told Kevin Sieff of The Washington Post on Sunday. "My relatives are in prison, and if they talk about democratic rights they are killed."

Lilesa was considering moving elsewhere rather than risking his life returning home.

"If I go back to Ethiopia, maybe they will kill me," he said. "If not kill me, they will put me in prison. I have not decided yet, but maybe I will move to another country."

A spokesman for the Ethiopian government said on state-affiliated television Monday that the medalist won't face persecution if he comes home, and that he'll be given a heroic welcome, but Lilesa still wasn't sure if he'd return, according to The Associated Press' Elias Meseret.

Getachew Reda told local station Fana Broadcasting Corporate that Liesa "will not face any problems for his political stance. After all, this is an athlete who secured a silver medal for his country."

The Oromo tribe has held protests over government plans to relocate them, and the backlash has reportedly led to the deaths of more than 400 people.