Operation in Guatemala rescues 160 minors from Lev Tahor sect due to child exploitation.

On Friday, Guatemala's security forces carried out an unprecedented operation at a complex linked to Lev Tahor, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect that has been the subject of controversy due to its involvement in child exploitation and other serious human rights violations. According to Guatemalan prosecutors, at least 160 children and adolescents were rescued from this location, where they are suspected to be victims of human trafficking. Dimas Jiménez y Jiménez, a regional prosecutor, explained at a press conference that authorities are considering filing charges for several serious crimes, including human trafficking, child abuse, and, in more alarming cases, forced pregnancy and rape. "It is suspected that these crimes may have been committed by a member of the community," Jiménez added, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations. The operation took place following the escape of four non-Guatemalan minors who managed to alert authorities about the situation at the Lev Tahor complex. The statements from these youths, along with medical evidence and testimonies from former members of the sect, have allowed for the establishment of strong indications of systematic exploitation and abuse within the community. Nancy Lorena Paiz García, a special prosecutor against human trafficking, reiterated the complexity of the case, indicating that "modalities of human trafficking against these minors have been identified." In addition to the rescues, authorities found buried bodies on the sect's premises. Although there is no evidence that public cemeteries were used for these purposes, the information regarding the deaths of minors raises serious concerns and requires a thorough investigation. Prosecutor Paiz García indicated that this is part of a broader pattern of abuse that must be urgently addressed. A massive deployment of nearly 480 police officers, soldiers, prosecutors, and psychology experts participated in the raid, which was characterized by its organization and the intent to safeguard the minors involved. Electronic devices were confiscated in search of additional evidence, and thorough searches of the complex were conducted, which was protected by walls and locks, complicating previous attempts by authorities to intervene. The Lev Tahor group, which originated in Jerusalem in the 1980s, has relocated several times, living in countries like Canada before settling in Guatemala in the last decade. Its closed lifestyle and the strict rules imposed on its members have raised numerous alarms among authorities. Lucrecia Prera, head of the Office of Childhood and Adolescence, commented that their attempts to raid the complex in the past were thwarted by the defensive behavior of sect members, who surrounded officials and performed ceremonial dances to obstruct access. Since 2018, Guatemalan authorities have intensified surveillance over Lev Tahor, receiving reports of alarming situations such as forced pregnancies and child marriages. Testimonies from former members have described an environment of deprivation and abuse, where the lack of basic services such as food and medical care was the norm. Prera emphasized that the conditions were unsustainable and that the lives of the minors were at risk. Lev Tahor's reactions to the government's intervention have been defensive and dismissive. Antonio Guzmán, the community spokesperson, has denounced what he considers religious persecution, accusing authorities of harassing them without reason. However, Ministry of Public officials, Erick Eduardo Schaeffer Cabrera, clarified that the action is not directed against a particular religious community, but against crimes that affect the integrity of minors, regardless of religious affiliation. With this operation, Guatemala positions itself in a broader fight against human trafficking and child exploitation, a problem that affects several countries in the region. International collaboration and the intervention of authorities are essential to dismantle networks of abuse that hide under the guise of closed communities and religious practices. Finally, the Jewish community in Guatemala has distanced itself from Lev Tahor, emphasizing that the group is not part of their association and expressing support for ongoing investigations. The situation raises questions about the protection of minors' rights and the need for states to act firmly against any form of abuse that takes place, regardless of the beliefs that may be invoked in its defense.