French Court Convicts Lafarge for Financing Terrorism in Syria; Former CEO Jailed
The court found that Lafarge paid a total of €5.59 million to armed groups
A court in Paris has found French cement giant Lafarge guilty of financing terrorist organisations through its operations in war-torn Syria, imposing fines and prison sentences on senior executives, including its former CEO.
Verdict and Penalties
The Paris court ruled that Lafarge made payments to extremist groups, including Islamic State (ISIS) and the Nusra Front, between 2013 and 2014 to maintain operations at its cement plant in northern Syria.
The company has been fined €1.12 million ($1.32 million), while €30 million ($35.1 million) worth of assets will be confiscated. Additional penalties were imposed for violating European sanctions. The ruling remains subject to appeal.
Jail Terms for Executives
Eight former Lafarge employees were convicted, including:
- Bruno Lafont – sentenced to six years in prison
- Christian Herrault – sentenced to five years in prison
Other employees received prison terms ranging from one to seven years along with financial penalties. Lafont’s legal team has confirmed plans to appeal the verdict.
Court Observations
Presiding judge Isabelle Prevost-Desprez stated that Lafarge’s payments directly strengthened terrorist groups responsible for deadly attacks.
“The sole purpose of funding was to keep the plant running for economic reasons… These payments took the form of a genuine commercial partnership with Islamic State.”
The court found that Lafarge paid a total of €5.59 million to armed groups. This included:
- Over €800,000 for safe passage of employees
- Around €1.6 million to procure raw materials from ISIL-controlled quarries
Background: Syrian Operations
Lafarge acquired the Jalabiya cement plant in 2008 for $680 million, and it became operational in 2010—just before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.
Employees were based in nearby Manbij and had to cross the Euphrates River daily to reach the facility, often navigating territory controlled by armed groups.
Ongoing Legal Troubles
This marks the first time a company has been convicted in France for financing terrorism, although investigations into Lafarge began in 2017.
In a separate development:
- A French court in 2022 upheld charges of complicity in crimes against humanity
- Another case on similar charges remains ongoing in France
- In the United States, Lafarge admitted in 2022 to paying armed groups and agreed to $778 million in fines and forfeiture
Company Response
Now part of Swiss building materials giant Holcim, Lafarge acknowledged the ruling, describing it as a “legacy matter” involving actions that violated its internal code of conduct.
The company stated it is reviewing the judgment and considering its legal options.
