Name: Cement giant Lafarge goes on trial in France
Uploaded: 2025-11-18T16:06:23.305Z
Duration: 1 min 45 s
Description: Lafarge, the French cement giant, stands accused of paying ISIS to keep its Syrian factory open. Eight former executives, including ex-CEO Bruno Lafont, face charges over these “shameful arrangements.”

Lafarge, the French cement giant, stands accused of paying ISIS to keep its Syrian factory open. Eight former executives, including ex-CEO Bruno Lafont, face charges over these “shameful arrangements.”

Paris

French cement giant Lafarge and eight of its former employees, including a former CEO, are on trial in Paris over allegations of financing terrorism and violating international sanctions. Prosecutors allege that Lafarge paid millions of euros to jihadist groups, including the Islamic State, between 2013 and 2014 to ensure the continued operation of its Jalabiya cement factory in Syria during the country's conflict.

The case began after media reports in 2016 prompted a formal investigation, leading to charges against several executives and lawsuits from rights groups and the United States. Lafarge has since paid $778 million in fines in the U.S. and pleaded guilty to supporting terrorists.

Cement giant Lafarge goes on trial in France

It is a trial about corporate greed and the financing of terrorism. Or as French journalist who broke the story nearly a decade ago put it troubling and shameful arrangements with terrorists including the Islamic State group. At the heart of the trial the cement giant Lafarge and eight of its former employees including its then CEO Bruno Laffont is the question of whether the multinational corporation puts profits before all else including financing terrorism and breaking international sanctions. Specifically whether it paid millions to jihadist groups in 2013 and 2014 in Syria so that it could keep its Jalabiya cement factory up and running. Completed in 2010 the factory had cost Lafarge 680 million euros in investments. But then in 2012 the Syrian conflict intensified in the north and the French corporation made a decision. Unlike other multinationals it did not close its factory. Instead prosecutors say Lafarge made deals with several armed groups including the Islamic State. In exchange for payments the factory personnel would remain safe and the facility stayed open. Fast forward to June 2016 when Le Monde broke the story about Lafarge which a year earlier had merged with the Swiss cement group Holcim. A preliminary investigation was launched. A major scandal ensued forcing its CEO Eric Olsen to resign in 2017. The Paris prosecutor launched a probe with eight executives placed under formal investigation which led to charges against them. Multiple rights groups have also sued the corporation as did the United States for breaking sanctions. Lafarge paid 778 million dollars in fines in that case and pleaded guilty to helping terrorists.

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