**Guatemalan police faced off against members of the Lev Tahor sect, battling to safeguard 160 children rescued from purportedly abusive conditions, reflecting ongoing investigations into serious allegations against the group.**
**Clashes Erupt in Guatemala as Authorities Fight to Protect 160 Children from Controversial Sect**
**Clashes Erupt in Guatemala as Authorities Fight to Protect 160 Children from Controversial Sect**
**Tension rises as Lev Tahor attempts to reclaim children amidst allegations of abuse.**
In a startling confrontation, members of the Lev Tahor sect clashed with Guatemalan police while attempting to reclaim 160 children taken into protective custody. This incident follows a police raid on a sect-operated farm, where authorities suspected severe abuse perpetrated by one of its members.
Interior Minister Francisco Jimenez revealed the distressing conditions under which these children were allegedly living, which prompted the decisive action taken by authorities last Friday. While the police managed to successfully remove the children from the sect's grasp, tensions escalated over the weekend when sect members breached a care center to recover their relatives, leading to violent scuffles with law enforcement.
The Lev Tahor sect is known for its extremist customs, including the advocacy of child marriage and strict control over its followers' lives. Women and girls, sometimes as young as three years old, are required to dress in full-body robes, and harsh punishments are inflicted for minor infractions. Members of the sect claim that their treatment by Guatemalan authorities amounts to religious persecution rather than a legitimate concern for the children's welfare.
The sect has a history of operation in Mexico and Guatemala from 2014 to 2017, and legal troubles in recent years. In 2022, several members were arrested in Chiapas, Mexico, for similar allegations but were released due to insufficient evidence.
Authorities initiated their latest operation when serious accusations, including "forced pregnancy, mistreatment of minors, and rape," surfaced. Following the initial raid, approximately 100 relatives of the children gathered outside the care center demanding their return. In a bid to reclaim the minors, sect members forcibly entered the premises but were thwarted by police, who managed to secure the children once more.
Despite previous attempts by officials to investigate the conditions within the sect, sect members had obstructed their access. Estimates suggest that the Lev Tahor community consists of around 50 families, spread across Guatemala, the US, and Canada.
In light of these events, the Jewish Community of Guatemala distanced itself from the sect, condemning their practices and expressing support for the government's actions in ensuring the safety of vulnerable populations.
