A Paris court has convicted the former chief executive of the French cement manufacturer Lafarge, Bruno Lafont, along with seven other former executives, on charges of financing terrorism.
The ruling relates to payments totaling approximately €5.6 million (about $6.5 million) made between 2013 and 2014 through the company’s Syrian subsidiary.
These funds were transferred to armed jihadist organizations, including the Islamic State group and the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, as well as to various intermediaries, in an effort to sustain operations at the firm’s cement plant in northern Syria amid the country’s civil war.
The court determined that the transactions violated European Union sanctions and constituted direct support for designated terrorist entities.
Mr. Lafont received an immediate six-year prison term, while former deputy managing director Christian Herrault was sentenced to five years.
Another executive, Firas Tlass, who handled certain payments, was given a seven-year sentence in absentia. Lafarge itself, now integrated into the Swiss-based Holcim group, was ordered to pay a fine exceeding €1 million.
This case represents one of the first instances in France where a major corporation has been held criminally accountable for terrorism financing. Mr. Lafont and at least one other convicted party have announced plans to appeal the verdict.
The decision underscores the serious legal and ethical responsibilities that corporate leaders bear when operating in conflict zones.
It serves as a clear judicial reminder that prioritizing business continuity cannot justify engagements that provide material support to prohibited terrorist organizations, reinforcing international standards against such practices.
