Yisrael's account of abuses by Lev Tahor has not been independently verified, but it parallels testimonies of other former members.

A spokesman for Lev Tahor, Uriel Goldman, rejected the allegations. luca168

"I completely deny all the accusations," he told the BBC. "The greatest evidence we have is the words of the [local] judge in Mexico. After hearing all the evidence from A to Z, the judge decisively decided to close the case." Mr Goldman said the group was the victim of "a persecution".