Lev Tahor ruled to be a dangerous cult
The Petah Tikva Magistrate’s court ruled on Tuesday that the Lev Tahor ultra-Orthodox sect living in Guatemala is a “dangerous cult” that is abusing children.I think if an arrest warrant is issued for their overlord, that can help, ditto if authorities do what they did earlier, and remove more of the children from the clan's clutches. They'll also have to be on alert for if the cult decides to flee once more to another destination they think they can exploit for their abusive conduct.
“Based on the conduct of the sect toward minors, it’s sufficient to call this group a dangerous cult that severely damages the physical and emotional well-being of the children of this community,” Judge Rivka Makayes wrote in her ruling, according to Hebrew media reports.
Makayes called on state authorities to take action in order to return the children held illegally by the sect. While the verdict has no jurisdiction in Guatemala, it reflects an official position of the state toward those considering joining Lev Tahor.
The court ruling comes in response to a petition filed by the attorney general and several relatives of sect members.
The decision cited severe physical abuse, marriage of minors to spouses decades their elder, separation of children from their parents, denial of formal education and expulsion from the community of minors who do not conform to group’s rules as reasons behind her decision.
The judge added that members of the community are subject to decrees of long periods of fasting if the leading rabbi’s guidelines aren’t followed.
In order to reach her decision, Makayes relied on previous court rulings as well as the testimony from rights organizations that have investigated Lev Tahor in the past.
Makayes agreed with the petition that asked to categorize the ultra-Orthodox children illegally taken by their parents to Guatemala to join the group as “at-risk” minors.
While the ruling will have little effect on those already in Central America, Makayes hoped the decision will dissuade other ultra-Orthodox families from joining the group.
And it's shameful that the mayor of a Guatemalan village who expelled such a repellent bunch is now being sentenced to serve in jail, all because they were worried about what a bad omen the cult happens to be.
The time's come to shut down Lev Tahor's operations and arrest their ringleaders.
Labels: Canada, haredi corruption, Israel, Latin America, misogyny, Moonbattery