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Posted by Abdulwahid
- Apr 14, 2026, 08:26 PMFrench cement company Lafarge has been found guilty of financing militant groups, including Islamic State, in order to continue its business operations in Syria during the civil war. The court ruled that the company paid millions of dollars to these groups to keep its factory running despite the dangerous environment.
According to the judgment delivered in Paris, Lafarge paid about $6.5 million between 2013 and 2014 to armed groups controlling parts of northern Syria. The payments were made to ensure safe passage, secure raw materials, and maintain production at its cement plant, even as conflict intensified in the region.
Eight former employees of the company were also found guilty of financing terrorism. Among them was former CEO Bruno Lafont, who was sentenced to six years in prison. Another senior official, Christian Herrault, received a five-year sentence, while a Syrian staff member involved in making the payments was sentenced in absentia to seven years.
The court stated that Lafarge's actions helped terrorist organisations gain control of valuable natural resources, which were then used to fund attacks in the Middle East and Europe. Judge Isabelle Prevost-Desprez described the payments as a deliberate effort to maintain business operations, even if it meant cooperating with extremist groups.
Lafarge responded by acknowledging the court's decision, describing the issue as a past incident that violated the company's internal rules. The company, now owned by Holcim, said it is taking responsibility and sees the ruling as an important step in addressing its past actions.
The case is considered historic, as it is the first time a company has been tried in France for financing terrorism. It is linked to the wider conflict of the Syrian Civil War, during which militant groups seized large territories. Investigations are still ongoing into whether the company was also involved in more serious crimes, including complicity in crimes against humanity.
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According to the judgment delivered in Paris, Lafarge paid about $6.5 million between 2013 and 2014 to armed groups controlling parts of northern Syria. The payments were made to ensure safe passage, secure raw materials, and maintain production at its cement plant, even as conflict intensified in the region.
Eight former employees of the company were also found guilty of financing terrorism. Among them was former CEO Bruno Lafont, who was sentenced to six years in prison. Another senior official, Christian Herrault, received a five-year sentence, while a Syrian staff member involved in making the payments was sentenced in absentia to seven years.
The court stated that Lafarge's actions helped terrorist organisations gain control of valuable natural resources, which were then used to fund attacks in the Middle East and Europe. Judge Isabelle Prevost-Desprez described the payments as a deliberate effort to maintain business operations, even if it meant cooperating with extremist groups.
Lafarge responded by acknowledging the court's decision, describing the issue as a past incident that violated the company's internal rules. The company, now owned by Holcim, said it is taking responsibility and sees the ruling as an important step in addressing its past actions.
The case is considered historic, as it is the first time a company has been tried in France for financing terrorism. It is linked to the wider conflict of the Syrian Civil War, during which militant groups seized large territories. Investigations are still ongoing into whether the company was also involved in more serious crimes, including complicity in crimes against humanity.
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