Women in Old Order Mennonite community allege sexual abuse by family members

The RCMP is investigating allegations of sexual abuse within an Old Order Mennonite community in Manitoba, according to CBC News. The allegations come from Anna and Emma Marquart, two women who left the community in 2013. Both sisters claim the abuse began while they were still living in Ontario, before their group broke fellowship with the larger community in late 2006 and relocated to Manitoba.

Anna Marquart, 26, is now married to a non-Mennonite man from the surrounding area and has taken his last name. Her 24-year-old sister, Emma, is living with them and has also changed her last name, stating she does not want any association with the community anymore. Emma described the community’s culture as one where victims were not supported, saying, “Up until now nobody was strong enough to withstand what the community members say did not happen.”

Anna recalls her first memory of abuse at the age of four or five, when she was forced to give oral sex to a family member. She said anal sex began when she was 10 years old. “That was so bad, I almost fainted and puked. You weren’t allowed to go to doctors so you had to suffer the pain,” she said. A September 2015 gynecologist’s report indicated her injuries required sutures.

Emma also alleges she was five years old when a family member forced her to give him oral sex in the bathroom of their Ontario church. The abuse continued for years, involving different men. Emma said she was gang-raped by five men at age 14 while she was already pregnant. She did not know who the father was but says the pregnancy was terminated.

Anna has been reported missing since July 2020 and has not been seen or heard from since then. The RCMP’s investigation into these allegations highlights the complex and sensitive nature of such cases, emphasizing the need for justice and accountability. The community’s response to these allegations remains a matter of concern, reflecting broader issues of power and responsibility within religious groups.

The case underscores the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring that all voices are heard, aligning with the biblical call to seek justice and care for the marginalized. As the investigation continues, the community’s actions and responses will be closely watched, with the hope that truth and mercy prevail.

Source: Read the original report