Police nab head of child-abusing cult

A resident of the northern town of Majd al-Krum is suspected of leading a cult that routinely practiced child abuse, it was revealed on Tuesday.

The man is accused of leading a group of six families and instructing them to discipline their children by spreading feces on their faces, beating them, withholding food and/or tying them up.

The leader is also accused of sexually assaulting several of the women in the group. The case came to light after one of the women filed a complaint with the Karmiel police.

The families also turned their salaries over to the leader.

The man was taken into custody following a lengthy investigation and was remanded for eight days.