Child abuse & neglect

Guatemala: Officials Raid Lev Tahor Compound, Rescue 160 Children

DEC 23 2024·Updated DEC 24 2024

Story

Above: Members of the Lev Tahor Jewish community remain outside the Alida Espana de Arana special education school, where the children taken into custody were in Guatemala City on Dec. 22, 2024. Image credit: Johan Ordóñez/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

In a raid on the Haredi Jewish Lev Tahor community's compound in Oratorio on Friday, Guatemalan authorities took at least 160 minors and 40 women into protective custody.
Haaretz
Jewish News Syndicate (JNS)
The operation involved hundreds of law enforcement agents, psychologists, and social workers and was supported by the US Dept. of Homeland Security.
The Times of Israel
The New York Times
This comes after four non-Guatemalan children escaped the compound in November and filed a complaint of possible crimes, including forced pregnancy, human trafficking, mistreatment of minors, and rape.
The New York Times
The Associated Press
Officials seized electronic devices and found suspected child bones in the area. Meanwhile, a deputy commissioner of the National Civil Police was arrested on charges of acting as an informant about police operations.
The Times of Israel
The New York Times
Ynet reported on Sunday that the 200 people, now under the protection of the Guatemalan government, have been transferred to another facility after some of them caused disturbances over the weekend. All of them are expected to eventually be released.
Ynet News
Founded in Jerusalem in 1988, Lev Tahor was established in Guatemala — as well as in neighboring Mexico — a decade ago, facing multiple legal challenges related to child abuse.
Jewish News Syndicate (JNS)
Reuters

Sources Split

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Guatemala has taken necessary measures as Lev Tahor is a dangerous cult in which the rabbi plays a dictatorial role. Children don't have access to any form of education and are constantly abused — and aren't allowed to have contact even with their parents. Hopefully, the international community has been united to stop this harmful group.

Business Insider

Establishment-critical narrative

Some bad apples do exist in Lev Tahor — and they must be held accountable. However, it's unacceptable that members of the group suffer religious discrimination worldwide, including legal actions. Parents should be entitled to raise their children as they want, not being deprived of their freedom of religious expression.