Authorities in Guatemala on Friday rescued 160 children and teenagers from the “Pure Heart” Jewish sect in the southeast of the country, following allegations of abuse including cases of rape, prosecutors said in the trial.
The rescue operation took place in the area of the agricultural town of Orretrio, about 78 kilometers from the Guatemalan capital, and highlighted the ongoing concerns about the controversial actions of the Jewish sect, which has previously faced similar claims since it was founded in the 1980s.
The prosecutor of the Office of the Attorney General in Guatemala for the fight against human trafficking, Nancy Pais, said at a press conference that “based on the testimonies of the complainants, the evidence collected and the medical examinations, we were able to determine that there are forms of human trafficking against these minors, including forced marriage, abuse and other crimes.”
As you may remember, the Jewish sect “Pure Heart” was founded in 1988. The sect practices a strict form of Judaism with special interpretations of Halacha, among other things, long prayers and arranged marriages.
Between 2014 and 2017, the community settled in Mexico and Guatemala. In 2022, in a police operation in the Mexican state of Chiapas, on the Guatemalan border, a group of children and teenagers from the “Pure Heart” sect were rescued, community members were arrested on suspicion of abusing minors.
The Jewish community in Guatemala completely disowned the statement they issued and expressed support for the authorities “must protect the lives and integrity of minors and other vulnerable groups that may be at risk.” The minors are under government supervision, investigations are ongoing.
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