top of page

Ultra-Orthodox Cult Described as 'Jewish Taliban' Attempts to Flee to Iran for Asylum


Hundreds of members of the Jewish ultra-orthodox Lev Tahor sect are trying to reach Iran, where they requested political asylum in 2019, but their relatives are afraid that Tehran may use the group, who hold Israeli and American citizenships, as bargaining chips.


Members of the cult, based in Guatemala, are attempting to fly to Iraqi Kurdistan, but the relatives of the cult members have contacted their respective governments in request to try and block the migration, according to the Ynet news site.


Members of the Lev Tahor sect try to go from Guatemala to Iran


Israel and the United States are working to prevent members of the extremist "Lev Tahor" ultra-Orthodox sect from moving to Iran. The fear is that Tehran will use them as a bargaining chip for future negotiations.


Members of the Lev Tahor group, which is anti-Zionist, applied for political asylum in Iran in 2018. Documents filed in a US federal court showed that the leaders of the Hasidic cult swore allegiance to Supreme Leader Ayatollah. Ali Khamenei.


According to the Ynet news site, hundreds of members of the group, mainly based in Guatemala, may be trying to move to Iran after dozens of families were seen at the airport in Guatemala, en route to Kurdistan, the border between Iraq and Iran.



Members of the haredi sect Lev Tahor attempt to cross into Iran


Israel and the United States are working to prevent members of an extremist ultra-Orthodox sect from traveling to Iran, fearing they will be used as bargaining chips by Tehran, it emerged on Tuesday.


Members of the Lev Tahor group, which is anti-Zionist, sought political asylum in Iran in 2018. Documents presented to a US federal court in 2019 showed leaders of the fringe Hasidic cult sought asylum in Iran and have sworn allegiance to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.



bottom of page