PANAJACHEL, GUATEMALA—Members of Lev Tahor marked the Sabbath Saturday in a small hotel on the outskirts of this lakefront town in Guatemala after a local judge ruled that the kids were not in danger and could remain with their parents.
“They said that there’s no evidence of any danger for the children by their parents. There’s no ruling by Interpol to take them. Therefore, they’re giving the children to the parents,” said Yoil Weingarten, a member of the ultra-orthodox Jewish sect who accompanied the six children and their parents on their flight from Canada.
Weingarten spoke with the Star as the group walked to their hotel from the courthouse late Friday night. Police peacefully took the six children and three adults to the court Friday afternoon, as they were beginning the Sabbath, a sacred day in the Jewish faith. The police officers “didn’t even know,” Weingarten said.
The judge noted that there were problems with paperwork filed by Canadian authorities through the Guatemalan solicitor general’s office, according to a source who was in the courtroom. She did not take the passports of any family members and made no provision that they remain in Panajachel. Media were excluded from the hearing.
A judge specializing in family and child law is scheduled to hear the case Monday in Solola, a nearby town.
Child protection authorities in Quebec have documented allegations of widespread physical abuse, underage marriage and a substandard education regime within the sect. Before the Quebec case could go to court, more than 200 Lev Tahor members boarded buses and fled from the town of Sainte-Agathes-des-Monts in November.
Weingarten said the allegations are just against the community and have nothing to do with the specific family. Members of the anti-Zionist sect have maintained they are being persecuted for their beliefs and that supporters of Israel are fueling the allegations. They have denied all allegations of child abuse.
“(The father of the children) has never done any crime,” said Weingarten. “Never beat his child. Never any of these allegations.”
After Quebec, they resettled in Chatham, Ont., where another court hearing was held and a judge ruled that the Quebec decision could be enforced, but placed a 30-day stay to allow time for appeal. On the day that appeal was scheduled to be heard, Chatham-Kent Children’s Services filed an emergency motion for the apprehension of the children after discovering some had left the country.
Six children and their parents were stopped upon arrival in Trinidad and Tobago. They had missed their flight to Guatemala. They were subsequently returned to Canada on March 8 and apprehended. Two more children were apprehended in Calgary.
The remaining six children are in Guatemala with their parents and Weingarten. The children and their parents cannot be identified because of a Canadian court-ordered publication ban.
The group checked into the hotel March 9. Locals and hotel owners say the sect members were extremely suspicious of anyone taking pictures of them. A local real estate agent said they inquired about renting a house in the area.
When asked if they would return to Canada, Weingarten said, “I don’t think so.”
The group’s immigration status in Guatemala is unclear. As tourists, they can stay in the country for 90 days.
A source within the Guatemalan government’s ministry of foreign affairs said the group applied for refugee status, but officials at the department of immigration heard of no such application and said, even if they had, they could not disclose any information because refugee applications are confidential.
Weingarten refused to comment on anything related to their status saying it was a “private issue.”
In an emailed statement, a spokesperson from the department of foreign affairs, trade and development said they are aware of the situation.
“Consular officials in Guatemala are liaising with local authorities on this issue. To protect the private and personal information of the individuals concerned, further details on this case cannot be released,” said spokesperson Ian Trites.