French Court Convicts Lafarge and Ex-CEO for Funding Terror Groups in Syria
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Apr 13
French Court Convicts Lafarge and Ex-CEO for Funding Terror Groups in Syria
58 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Apr 13
A French court has found cement giant Lafarge and eight former executives guilty of financing terrorist groups, including Islamic State, in Syria.
Former CEO Bruno Lafont was sentenced to six years in prison, and Lafarge was fined over €1 million for payments made between 2013 and 2014.
This landmark ruling marks the first time a company is convicted in France for financing terrorism, with further investigations ongoing into alleged complicity in crimes against humanity.
Could this French verdict trigger a wave of prosecutions against multinationals operating in war zones?
A court called it a 'partnership with IS.' How far did Lafarge's collaboration with terrorists go?
Lafarge paid a $778M US fine but only a €1M French fine. Why the massive difference?
Holcim touts sustainability, yet its subsidiary Lafarge funded ISIS. Can corporate ESG claims be trusted?
Will new EU due diligence laws finally stop companies from profiting in conflict zones?
Why were Syrian employees who faced ISIS denied victim status and compensation in this landmark case?
Historic Conviction of Lafarge for Terrorist Financing in Syria Sets New Global Corporate Accountability Standard
Overview
In April 2026, a French court convicted Lafarge and eight former executives for financing ISIS and al-Nusra Front in Syria between 2013 and 2014, revealing a deliberate economic strategy to maintain operations and market share through millions in payments. These payments, concealed via shell companies and fake invoices, were central to both the French conviction and a prior 2022 U.S. guilty plea, which resulted in $778 million in fines. Despite efforts to keep the Jalabiya plant running, ISIS seized it in 2014 after threatening an assault. The landmark verdict set a precedent for corporate criminal liability, sparking appeals, ongoing investigations, and calls for stronger executive accountability and corporate reforms.