French Cement-Maker Found Guilty of Financing Terrorism in Syria

French Cement-Maker Lafarge Found Guilty of Financing Terrorism in Syria

Paris Criminal Court. Credit: Vincevinss. License.

The Paris Criminal Court found former executives and security managers of Lafarge SA and its Syrian branch Lafarge Cement Syria guilty of financing terrorism and violating existing international sanctions in the context of Syria to keep their cement plant in Jalabiya, in northern Syria, running.[1]

During the trial, the defendants argued that they had no knowledge of the terrorist activities of notorious terrorist groups such as Jabhat al-Nursa, Ahrar al-Sham, and ISIS, with which they were dealing when payments totalling USD 5.5 million were made. The Court ordered prison sentences ranging from 18 months to 7 years, with fines ranging from €20,000 to €225,000. As the defendants may still appeal, the convictions and sentences are not final.

Yazda, a Dohuk-based civil society organization (CSO) supported by Justice Rapid Response’s (JRR) technical expertise, initiated, alongside organizations such as Sherpa and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, a criminal complaint back in 2016 and supported victims throughout nearly decade-long proceedings.

Since the Court recognized the important role that CSOs play in uncovering the truth and representing victims and survivors, Yazda could participate in the trial phase. As such, it presented the consequences of financing these terrorist groups in relation to the genocide and other atrocity crimes committed against the Yazidi community.

Demonstrating JRR’s long-term commitment to Yazda’s essential work and to promoting the rights and access to justice for victims and survivors, JRR has been working with Yazda since 2017 to strengthen its capacity in documenting gross human rights violations and international crimes.

Over the years, JRR provided, among others, child rights and legal expertise as well as sexual and genderbased investigators to Yazda and will continue doing so to build the capacity of CSOs and contribute to empowering all actors of the justice system.

This ruling follows a 2022 case in the United States in which the French firm pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to US-designated “terrorist” organisations and agreed to pay a $778-million fine, in what was the first time a corporation had faced the charge.[2]

More Judicial Proceedings Against Lafarge

Lafarge S.A. is also facing judicial proceedings in the U.S. since December 2023 when 400 Yazidi-Americans filed a lawsuit against the French cement and construction conglomerate under the AntiTerrorism Act for conspiring to provide support to the “terrorist and genocidal campaign” conducted by ISIS against the Yazidi population.

This is another landmark civil case brought against a private enterprise by the Yazidi victims and survivors who are seeking to obtain justice and financial compensation for the harms suffered. This filing was supported by many organizations, including Yazda, which facilitated the gathering of all of the 400 victims’ interviews.