News Screen – A court in Paris, France, sentenced former Lafarge CEO Bruno Lafont to six years in prison for his involvement in financing the ISIS terrorist group in Syria.
In addition to the individual penalties, the French cement company, Lafarge, was also subject to a maximum fine of more than 1.1 million euros or around 1.3 million US dollars. This verdict was read out on Monday, April 13 2026, by the Paris court.
The panel of judges stated that Lafarge, through its subsidiary in Syria, was proven to have paid around 5.6 million euros to armed groups, including ISIS, in the 2013–2014 period. These payments were made to maintain the operations of cement factories in conflict areas.
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The presiding judge, Isabelle Prevost-Desprez, said this practice had contributed to the funding of acts of terrorism, including those that had an impact outside the Middle East region.
“This funding allows terrorist groups to control resources and finance their activities, including in Europe,” he said at the hearing.
In the decision, the court also stated that the company maintained business relations with armed groups for operational purposes. The total payment to this group is considered to be an aggravated violation of the law.
This case stems from Lafarge’s decision to continue operating a factory worth 680 million US dollars in Jalabiya, northern Syria, even though conflict broke out in 2011. Unlike other multinational companies that withdrew, Lafarge continued operating until 2014 before the area was controlled by ISIS.
During this period, the company allegedly paid intermediaries to obtain raw materials and ensure safe distribution and worker mobility. Apart from ISIS, payments were also made to other armed groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra.
The court also sentenced a number of former staff and related parties to sentences ranging from 18 months to seven years in prison. One of the Syrian defendants, Firas Tlass, was sentenced to seven years in prison in absentia.
Meanwhile, another former executive, Christian Herrault, was sentenced to five years in prison. He previously argued that the decision to maintain factory operations was made to protect local workers.
Prosecutors said the policy was driven solely by profit motives. They assessed that the company leadership knew and approved the payment scheme to armed groups.
This case attracted international attention, especially after in 2022 Lafarge pleaded guilty in the United States to similar charges and agreed to pay a fine of 778 million US dollars—the first case in which a company was charged with supporting a terrorist organization.
Currently, Holcim, Lafarge’s parent company since 2015, has stated that it is not aware of this practice.
Apart from the terrorism funding case, other legal proceedings related to alleged involvement in crimes against humanity are still ongoing in France.
This ruling confirms the commitment of the French authorities to crack down on corporate practices involved in financing terrorism, especially in areas of armed conflict.***
