After several Guatemalan courts refused to deliberate on the condition of over 200 women and children rescued from the Lev Tahor sect compound last month, the country's Supreme Court decided to begin hearing the case, but no date for the hearings has been set.
After several Guatemalan courts declined to deliberate on the condition of over 200 women and children rescued from the extremist Jewish sect Lev Tahor compound last month, the country’s Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case, although no date has been set for proceedings.
The December 20 raid on the ultra-religious sect followed allegations of cruelty and abuse against minors, and authorities are now tasked with determining whether they were in immediate danger.
Guatemala’s chief of prisons, Marvin Rabanales, said on Thursday that no psychological evaluations of the women and children have been conducted yet. However, there are reports of sect children vandalizing property and attacking social workers and police officers.
On the night of January 8 and the early hours of January 9, law enforcement officers were attacked, leaving some requiring stitches, while six social workers were treated after being doused with acid and other chemicals, Rabanales added.
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Lev Tahor sect members in Guatemala
“The teams followed protocol and sought dialogue, but the group’s aggressive behavior prevented any resolution,” the Ministry of Social Affairs said, noting the violence had persisted for three days. The ministry affirmed its commitment to ensuring the children’s well-being, working under judicial directives to provide adequate living conditions.
A significant challenge for authorities is the sect women’s refusal to accept food or water and the children’s insistence on covering their faces. Authorities stated that the group’s unconventional practices require specialized handling. “This sect has been deported from other countries, including Canada and Mexico,” officials noted.
Members of Lev Tahor are currently housed in a shelter supported by medical teams, the Guatemalan Red Cross, firefighters, and volunteers who monitor their health and provide care.