Is there any evidence that they have engaged in Child abuse? This allegation is so easy to throw around. And the basis for accusation of child abuse has been lowered for years. When I was a kid a parent had the RIGHT and OBLIGATION to discipline a child (which can include striking the child). Jewish law goes according to the maxim 'spare the rod, spoil the child' and discipline of wayward children is to be dealt with severely. While I am glad I did not grow up with this discipline, maybe I would not have been as wild a kid as I was in my 20s...
I don't know if they ever proved child abuse by the Branch Davidians. Child abuse was one of the claims made by the FBI before busting down and burning the Davidian compound. At the time I supported the governments operations but over the years I began to question the reasoning for the raid.
If this child abuse charge is false it would be a terrible thing. I don't know about this Lev Tahor 'sect' other than the propaganda which has been thrown around. If there is institutionalized child abuse then they should be shut down... If they have strong discipline, then I say they are entitled to doing this.
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/150544/jewish/Discipline.htm
You are confused and confusing the issue.
The leader of this cult spent time in jail in the US for kidnapping a child. Did you know that?
There are allegations not just of hitting, but of severe physical beatings, locking "disobedient" girls locked into basements, taking kids away from biological parents (of course by the mighty cult leader who determines what parents are suitable and what ones not) if deemed not properly taught, and accusations of child abuse.
The cult figure's wife and child are on the public record, having abandoned the cult, claiming they were physically abused.
Only a truly sick individual or someone downright ignorant of the issue (which it sounds like you are ignorant of this group) would try to "explain away" the obviously brutal and unacceptable conduct of this disgusting group and its abusive leader.
Read this article:
http://www.timesofisrael.com/police-allege-physical-mental-abuse-in-lev-tahor-sect/The claim of this cult figure that it's a "blood libel" or religious persecution of his group is a joke. There are haredim and hasidim all over the world, all over the US, canada, Israel, etc practicing real Torah Judaism and none of them are accused of the crazy things he is accused of. None of them are "persecuted" like this. Do the math.