GUATEMALA CITY (CHATNEWSTV) — Guatemalan authorities thwarted an attempt by members of the Jewish Extremist Ultra-Orthodox to recapture 160 children rescued during a police raid last week amid allegations of severe abuse and sexual exploitation.
According to BBC reports, the children were placed in protective care on Friday after police raided the sect’s farm in Oratorio, southeast of Guatemala City. Interior Minister Francisco Jimenez said they were allegedly being abused by a member of the secretive sect, which is under investigation in multiple countries for crimes including forced pregnancy and child rape.
Two days later, sect members stormed the care center where the children were being sheltered, leading to violent scuffles with police. Officials managed to secure the children and relocate them, the Attorney General’s Office confirmed.
“Police intervention ensured the safety of the children and prevented their abduction,” the office said in a statement.
Lev Tahor, known for its extremist practices, has faced legal challenges globally, including allegations of child marriage, forced pregnancies, and harsh punishments. The sect enforces strict dietary and dress codes, requiring women and girls as young as three to wear full-body coverings.
Prosecutors said Friday’s raid followed reports of mistreatment and sexual violence against minors. Attempts to inspect the farm had previously been blocked by sect members.
The Jewish Community of Guatemala distanced itself from Lev Tahor, calling it a “foreign” group and expressing support for investigations to protect vulnerable individuals.
Lev Tahor, which claims religious persecution, comprises about 50 families from Guatemala, the United States, Canada, and Israel. Its leaders have faced criminal convictions in other countries, including a 2021 U.S. case where members were found guilty of child kidnapping and sexual exploitation.
Friday’s raid marks the latest in a series of legal actions against the sect, which relocated to Central America after facing scrutiny in Israel, Canada, and Mexico. Despite allegations, Lev Tahor continues to challenge authorities, insisting its practices are rooted in faith.
