The situation in Guatemala has turned contentious as police intervened to prevent members of the Lev Tahor sect from regaining custody of 160 children recently rescued from their farm. During a police raid on Friday, these minors were taken into protective care due to alarming allegations of abuse, including forced pregnancy and mistreatment. The raids were initiated in response to serious investigative claims about the sect, which promotes extremist practices and has faced scrutiny across several nations.
Interior Minister Francisco Jimenez indicated that one of the sect members is under investigation for alleged sexual offenses against the minors. On Sunday, members of Lev Tahor attempted to storm a care center to retrieve the children, prompting clashes with law enforcement. The sect, notorious for its essentialist beliefs, advocates for practices such as child marriage and harsh punitive measures against minor infractions.
In a show of solidarity, around 100 relatives of the children gathered outside the facility, demanding their return. Tensions flared when some sect members breached the gates in an effort to reclaim the children, who had been moved to a secure area by authorities. Fortunately, police swiftly responded, successfully detaining the children in a white minibus and reinstating their protection.
Authorities had previously struggled to conduct wellness checks on the children at the sect's farm due to resistance from its followers. The Lev Tahor community, comprised of 50 families spread across Guatemala and other nations, has been previously linked to arrests in Mexico related to similar allegations. The Jewish community in Guatemala has distanced itself from Lev Tahor, underscoring the sect's deviation from mainstream Jewish values and urging support for protective measures for vulnerable individuals at risk of exploitation.
Interior Minister Francisco Jimenez indicated that one of the sect members is under investigation for alleged sexual offenses against the minors. On Sunday, members of Lev Tahor attempted to storm a care center to retrieve the children, prompting clashes with law enforcement. The sect, notorious for its essentialist beliefs, advocates for practices such as child marriage and harsh punitive measures against minor infractions.
In a show of solidarity, around 100 relatives of the children gathered outside the facility, demanding their return. Tensions flared when some sect members breached the gates in an effort to reclaim the children, who had been moved to a secure area by authorities. Fortunately, police swiftly responded, successfully detaining the children in a white minibus and reinstating their protection.
Authorities had previously struggled to conduct wellness checks on the children at the sect's farm due to resistance from its followers. The Lev Tahor community, comprised of 50 families spread across Guatemala and other nations, has been previously linked to arrests in Mexico related to similar allegations. The Jewish community in Guatemala has distanced itself from Lev Tahor, underscoring the sect's deviation from mainstream Jewish values and urging support for protective measures for vulnerable individuals at risk of exploitation.
