Ultra-Orthodox 'Jewish Taliban' sect requests political asylum in Iran after abuse allegations

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect has requested political asylum from the Iranian government, documents filed in US Federal Court last week reveal.

The sect, named Lev Tahor, declared their loyalty and submission to the "Supreme Leader and Government" of Iran, asking for "asylum, protection and religious freedom of the families of its loyal members".

The appeal, which was made in 2018, also called for  "cooperation and help to counter Zionist dominance in order to peacefully liberate the Holy Land and the Jewish nation".

The request was first reported by Yeshiva World News, who found it among documents filed in US Federal Court last week. Five Lev Tahor members face trials in the US on charges of kidnapping, child abuse and identity theft.

The request for Iranian asylum came a month after the five members were arrested in Mexico and brought to the US for trial.

Lev Tahor has roughly 200 members and is believed to based in Mexico. The group left Canada to Guatemala in 2014 after allegations of child abuse. 

Arranged marriages between children and older members of the sect are reported to be common.

The group rejects the State of Israel and believes the Jewish nation must only be restored by God, and not through human efforts.

Founded in the 1990s in Jerusalem by Rabbi Shlomo Hebrans, the group were also based in the United States for a time.

The group is often termed the "Jewish Taliban" due to its extremely austere religious practices.

Members of the sect practice arranged marriages between teenagers. Women and girls in the group are expected to wear head-to-toe black coverings from the agree of three.