French cement giant found guilty of financing militant groups, including ISIS

French cement giant found guilty of financing militant groups, including ISIS
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French cement giant Lafarge has been convicted of financing armed groups, including the so-called Islamic State, during the Syrian civil war, in a landmark ruling highlighting corporate accountability.

A Paris court found that Lafarge paid around $6.5 million between 2013 and 2014 to various armed factions to maintain operations at its cement plant in northern Syria. Judge Isabelle Prevost-Desprez stated that the payments effectively enabled such groups to control resources and fund attacks regionally and internationally.

Eight former employees were also convicted of financing terrorism, including former CEO Bruno Lafont, who received a six-year prison sentence. Other executives, including Christian Herrault, were also jailed, while a Syrian staff member was sentenced in absentia.

The court heard that payments included funds for safe passage and purchases from quarries under militant control. Groups linked to al-Qaeda were also involved.

Lafarge acknowledged the ruling, describing it as related to past misconduct. The company, now owned by Holcim, was fined over €1 million.

The case, reported by the BBC, marks the first time a company has been convicted in France for financing terrorism.