Feyisa Lilesa named among 2016 global thinkers

ESAT News (December 13, 2016)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 21: Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia celebrates as he crosses the line to win silver during the Men’s Marathon on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Sambodromo on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Ethiopia’s Olympic athlete, Feyisa Lilesa, has been named among the 2016 top 100 global thinkers by the US based Foreign Policy (FP) magazine.

Feyisa was classed in the group of thinkers called ‘‘the challengers.’‘

“Given the fact that the Olympic Charter bans political propaganda, demonstrations are a rarity at the games. Nevertheless, Ethiopian runner Feyisa Lilesa snubbed the rulebook in order to call attention to the brutal actions of his country’s security forces,” FP said on its website.

Feyisa Lilesa crossed his arms at the finish line at the Rio Olympic to draw attention to the plight of his countrymen at home by a brutal regime. Hundreds of people were killed and tens of thousands jailed in a year long protest against the brutal regime in Ethiopia.

He sought asylum in the US and made Arizona his home to train with other world class athletes.

Feyisa finished fourth at the Honolulu Marathon last week also displaying his trademark crossed wrists.