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Cult Suspected of Child Abuse Runs from Canadian Authorities

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Lev Tahor cult director Mayer Rosner says the sect was forced to flee over the Quebec public school curriculum it would have been forced to teach its children.
Lev Tahor cult director Mayer Rosner says the sect was forced to flee over the Quebec public school curriculum it would have been forced to teach its children.
A Jewish cult suspected of child abuse cult fled Quebec last week, allegedly fearing the possibility of the removal of their children by Canadian authorities, according to reports. They vanished prior to the visit of child-protection workers and looming court dates on child abuse and neglect.

Members of the extremist Orthodox sect known as Lev Tahor, or Pure Heart, were initially reported to be planning to relocate the entire sect to Iran. On the contrary, the JTA and the Canadian media reported over the weekend that the group has opted to settle in Ontario instead of Iran. About 200 people, including more than 130 children, traveled from Ste. Agathe, Quebec to Ontario by bus and were staying in a block of hotel rooms, according to a Canadian police source,

Neighbors told authorities that three buses had arrived in the middle of the night to relocate the entire community. With some families facing court dates this week under Quebec’s Youth Protection Act, almost the entire community — including all of the 130 children — had abruptly decamped for Chatham, Ont.

“For sure we are worried by the fact that they fled Quebec to go to Ontario,” Denis Baraby, director of youth protection for the Laurentians region, said on Friday, November 22. His staff has been investigating the community since August, trying to help children suffering from poor hygiene, inadequate housing and unsatisfactory schooling, according to the National Post.

“We gathered evidence that there was important child neglect within the community and there was also psychological violence made toward the children in many ways,” Mr. Baraby said. “The basic needs of the children were not necessarily well provided for.”

The group now plans to root itself in the Southwestern Ontario town of Chatham-Kent, the Canadian media reported over the weekend. Chatham-Kent is a small community of 108,000 and is several hundred miles from Quebec.

Members of the sect told the Canadian media that the move was the result of a dispute with education officials in Quebec. Specifically, the sect, whose children are home schooled, was disputing the curriculum they were being required to teach the children, which included subjects like evolution.

The sect was concerned that the children would be placed in foster care. Ontario reportedly has liberal requirements for faith-based home schooling.

The cult, led by Israeli Rabbi Shlomo Helbrans, is allegedly reported to use extreme violence and mind control. Most of its members are Israeli-born with Canadian-born children.

Quebec youth protection services told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. that there are concerns that the children were neglected and are reportedly forced to live in the homes of families other than their own for punishments. According to the CBC, youth protection officials had been scheduled to meet in court with members of the cult the day after the group of some 40 families fled their home.

The files have been sent to youth protection services in Ontario. Some in the group have already purchased homes in the new location.

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