Guatemalan authorities raided the compound of an ultra-orthodox Jewish sect on Friday, taking at least 160 minors and 40 women into protective custody amid reports of abuse. The National Civil Police and military personnel participated in the raid, with Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez stating that protecting children is a top priority.
According to Guatemala’s Attorney General’s Office, suspected bones of one child were found during the search. The office reported a complaint made in November about possible crimes including forced pregnancies, mistreatment of minors, and rape.
The sect has faced legal issues globally, with previous incidents involving kidnapping, child exploitation, and human trafficking. In 2022, Mexican authorities removed women and children from the compound near the Guatemalan border. Two group leaders were convicted in New York in 2021 for kidnapping and child sexual exploitation crimes.
The ultra-orthodox Jewish sect has members in several countries, including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, and Israel. The raid is the latest development in a long-running saga of allegations against the group.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/guatemala-authorities-raid-ultra-orthodox-jewish-sects-compound-117005867