Guatemala authorities raid ultra-orthodox Jewish sect’s compound after report of abuse
GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemalan authorities searched the compound of an extremist ultra-orthodox Jewish sect Friday, taking at the very least 160 minors and 40 ladies into protecting custody after stories of abuse.
Inside Minister Francisco Jiménez stated the Nationwide Civil Police and members of army participated within the raid on the Lev Tahor group’s group about 55 miles (90 kilometers) southeast of the capital.
“The safety of girls and boys is an absolute precedence,” Jiménez stated.
Guatemala’s Legal professional Basic’s Workplace stated in an announcement on the social platform X that suspected bones of 1 youngster had been discovered. The workplace stated a grievance was made in November of doable crimes together with compelled pregnancies, mistreatment of minors and rape.
The sect has run into authorized issues in varied international locations.
In 2022, Mexican authorities arrested a pacesetter of the sect close to the Guatemalan border and eliminated a lot of ladies and youngsters from their compound.
In 2021, two leaders of the group had been convicted of kidnapping and youngster sexual exploitation crimes in New York. They allegedly kidnapped two youngsters from their mom to return a 14-year-old woman to an unlawful sexual relationship with an grownup male.
The sect is understood to have members in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Guatemala and Israel.
