Lafarge – Human Rights Insights

Corporate criminal liability: Analysis of the recent landmark ruling against Lafarge for financing terrorism in Syria

In a landmark 526 pages long ruling, the 16^th criminal chamber of the Paris civil court found on 13 April 2026 Lafarge S.A, four former top executives, including the CEO, two former security managers and two intermediaries guilty of financing terrorism in the groundbreaking case regarding the payment of over $5 million by Lafarge’s Syrian subsidiary to terrorist groups, including ISIS between 2013 and 2014 to maintain the activity of its cement plant in the surrounding of Aleppo, Syria. The plant whose construction cost $680 million started operating in 2010 (para. 78). The objective for the plant was to supply 30% of Syrian market cement needs (para. 78), competing against Turkish cement industry.

This case is historic in many respects: (1) for the first time a French company has been convicted for financing a terrorist organisation, (2) the parent company has been convicted for financing a terrorist organisation through its subsidiary and (3) two former top executives were sent out to jail immediately after the ruling delivery.

Proceedings against Lafarge for complicity in crimes against humanity can go on says France’s highest judicial court

On September 7, 2021, the French Cour de Cassation (the highest judicial court) overruled (in French) the Paris Court of Appeal decision to dismiss the claim of complicity in crime against humanity against Lafarge. Lafarge’s Syrian subsidiary, more than 98% owned by the French parent company, paid over $5 million to terrorist groups, including ISIS through middlemen between 2013 and 2014 to maintain the activity of its cement plant.

On going lawsuits against multinational companies

While the matter of jurisdiction has always been an important hurdle for affected communities to hold multinational corporations accountable, there has been over the past few years an increase of lawsuits brought against those companies before courts in home States. Despite some being dismissed, more and more cases are allowed to proceed, opening new doors for victims.

The article identifies on-going international lawsuits against MNCs, i.e. lawsuits brought in a country that is not the country where the alleged harm occurred.

Last update: 15 September 2026