(JTA) — Forty families belonging to an extremist haredi Orthodox cult fled their Quebec homes and are planning to go to Iran.

Members of the group, called Lev Tahor, or Pure Heart, left their homes on Tuesday out of fear that Canadian welfare authorities would take their children, the Times of Israel reported Wednesday. The paper cited an Israeli whose sister and eight children are part of the cult, which has been accused of neglecting and abusing its 137 children.

The members traveled to Ontario before the planned move to Iran, according to the paper.

The cult, led by Israeli Rabbi Shlomo Helbrans, reportedly uses extreme violence and mind control. Most of its members are Israeli-born with Canadian-born children.