Czech police probe Christian sect with history of alleged child kidnapping and abuse
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Czech police are investigating the activities of Twelve Tribes, a Christian sect with a history of alleged child kidnapping and abuse, which has established communities in the west of the country.
The first Twelve Tribes community was founded in the U.S. state of Tennessee in 1972. By the beginning of the 21st century, the group had spread to Europe.
Outwardly, the sect is family-oriented and emphasizes simple, rural living in harmony with nature.
But former members allege its teachings include racism, misogyny and homophobia, with followers, including children, exploited for labor. Allegations have also been made that children are beaten with canes.
In 2024 in the U.S., Nehemya Smith, a community elder, was sentenced to 20-40 years after he was found guilty of raping and sexually abusing two girls in Massachusetts. Authorities also investigated other communities for suspicious cases of infant deaths.
The sect also stirred up controversy in Germany, where it had established several communities, including in the Bavarian towns of Klosterzimmern and Wörnitz. The authorities eventually closed the private school operated by the community and removed 40 children from the custody of their parents in 2013.
The parents’ appeal to the court to have their children returned was denied. Some parents resorted to abducting their children from their legally appointed guardians, resulting in 11 kidnapping charges.
Content retrieved from: https://tvpworld.com/86061009/czech-police-probe-christian-sect-with-history-of-alleged-child-kidnapping-and-abuse.
