Official announcements from Guatemalan judicial authorities or credible news outlets

Guatemala Rescues 160 Children, 40 Women from Lev Tahor Sect; Confrontations Follow

Dec 23, 2024, 02:40 PM

Guatemalan authorities have rescued 160 children and 40 women from a compound of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect Lev Tahor in the Santa Rosa department, following allegations of severe abuses including rape, sexual exploitation, forced pregnancy, and forced marriages. The operation was initiated after four minors escaped and reported the abuses. The raid led to the discovery of suspected human remains of a minor. Members of the sect attempted to forcibly reclaim the children from a care facility in Guatemala City, resulting in confrontations with the police. Some children managed to escape during the incident, prompting a search alert. The Lev Tahor sect, which has faced similar accusations in the past, has denied the charges and claims to be a victim of religious persecution.