Guatemalan Authorities Foil Sect's Attempt to Reclaim Rescued Children
Authorities in Guatemala have thwarted efforts by members of a Jewish sect to recapture 160 children removed from their care.
The children were taken into protective custody on Friday during a police raid on a farm used by the Lev Tahor movement, which is under investigation in multiple countries for serious sexual offenses.
Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez stated that the children were allegedly being abused by a member of the sect.
On Sunday, members of Lev Tahor attempted to break into the care center housing the rescued children, resulting in clashes with police as they tried to reclaim custody. The situation remains under close monitoring as investigations continue.
The Lev Tahor sect is notorious for its extremist practices and strict control over its followers.
The group promotes child marriage, enforces severe punishments for minor infractions, and requires women and girls as young as three to wear full-body robes.
Lev Tahor has accused Guatemalan authorities of targeting them under the guise of religious persecution.
The sect established communities in Mexico and Guatemala between 2014 and 2017. In 2022, several members were arrested during a police operation in Chiapas, southern Mexico, but they were released due to insufficient evidence.
Raid on Lev Tahor Farm Sparks Clashes Over Rescued Children
The incident began on Friday when Guatemalan police raided a farm belonging to the Lev Tahor sect in Oratorio, southeast of Guatemala City, and took 160 children into protective custody.
Prosecutors reported suspicions of "forced pregnancy, mistreatment of minors, and rape" within the sect.
Two days later, around 100 relatives of the children—members of the sect—gathered outside the care center where the children were being sheltered, demanding their return. According to the Attorney General's Office, some sect members forcibly opened the gate and attempted to abduct the children.
Authorities quickly intervened, intercepting the children and transporting them in a white minibus to safety. With police assistance, the care center was able to "locate and protect everyone again," officials confirmed.
Authorities had previously attempted to check on the children's welfare but were blocked from entering the farm by sect members.
The Lev Tahor community in Guatemala is estimated to consist of about 50 families, with members also residing in the U.S., Canada, and other countries.
The Jewish Community of Guatemala issued a statement disavowing Lev Tahor, describing the sect as unrelated to its organization. The community expressed support for the authorities' actions, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the lives and well-being of minors and other vulnerable individuals who may be at risk.
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