Meeting with CAGE

CAGE is an independent advocacy organisation working to empower communities impacted by the War on Terror. CAGE (previously known as Cage Prisoners) was set up in October 2003 as a Human rights NGO with the purpose of raising awareness of the plight of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and other detainees held as part of the War on Terror.

Since then, as the War on Terror grew, Cage Prisoners became CAGE; an independent advocacy organisation with a broader scope, working to empower communities impacted by the War on Terror

CAGE has developed extensive networks with former prisoners, their families, lawyers, activists and the media. UUCSA met with the South African chapter of CAGE which highlighted how the PREVENT Strategy in UK is impacting on Muslims. In July 2015, the UK government introduced a statutory duty on all public sector workers to spot the signs of ‘radicalisation’ in order to stop their charges being ‘drawn into terrorism’.

CAGE also outlined how we in South Africa maybe profiled and compromised given the media hype ISIL recruitment in South Africa. The reach of terrorism legislation has greatly expanded in the USA, EUROPE, and Australia and even in some African States. First it was about preventing terrorism, then preventing violent extremism and now it is about 'preventing extremism'. False flag operations in South Africa could turn sentiments against Muslims and could create a very hostile social and political environment.