French Court Convicts Lafarge and Executives for Funding ISIS in Syria

A French court has found the cement company Lafarge guilty of financing terrorism by paying ISIS and other armed groups to keep its Syrian plant operational during the civil war.

The ruling was delivered on April 13, 2026, in Paris.

The court confirmed that Lafarge paid protection money directly to ISIS and other jihadist groups in northern Syria between 2013 and 2014, breaching European sanctions.

The payments were made to maintain operations at the company's plant in Jalabiya.

Lafarge was fined 1.12 million euros, with an additional 30 million euros worth of assets confiscated.

The company also faced fines for disregarding international sanctions.

Eight former Lafarge employees were found guilty, including former CEO Bruno Lafont, who was sentenced to six years in prison.

This case is significant as it highlights corporate complicity in conflict zones and the financing of terrorist organisations.

It marks a notable legal development in holding companies accountable for actions that support terrorism.

The court found that Lafarge paid a total of 5.59 million euros to armed groups, including ISIS and the al-Nusra Front, both designated terrorist organisations by the European Union during the relevant period.

The payments were described as a "genuine commercial partnership" aimed solely at keeping the Syrian plant running for economic reasons.

Other executives received prison sentences ranging from one to seven years.

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