Lafarge Trial Opens in France: French Company is being tried for financing ISIS in Syria
Washington, DC: 11/04/2025
In September 2016, the French Ministry of Finance filed a criminal complaint against Lafarge for its alleged illegal purchase of oil in Syria in violation of the EU embargo. In November 2016, 11 Syrian former employees together with ECCHR and Sherpa filed another criminal complaint against the company for complicity in crimes against humanity committed in Syria, endangerment of people’s lives, and for a series of labor rights violations.
Lafarge is charged with making arrangements with ISIS, Al-Nusra Front, and several other armed groups to keep its cement factory plant running between 2012 and 2014 in northeastern Syria. Syrian employees continued working while foreign management and staff was evacuated. They were exposed to various risks, including extortion and kidnapping by armed groups. During this time, the company allegedly made payments through intermediaries to armed groups that controlled the area. Lafarge also allegedly purchased commodities from ISIS and paid fees in exchange for permits. In September 2014, employees fled by their own means shortly before ISIS seized the plant.
After eight years of judicial investigation, the company as a corporate entity and eight accused persons will face trial before the Paris Criminal Court starting today. Among them, four former Lafarge French executives will appear on charges of financing terrorist organizations and violating international sanctions. Several former Syrian employees will be present at the trial to testify about their experiences.
SJAC is cooperating with Justiceinfo and Science Po Paris to document the proceedings, particularly by producing Arabic language reports to permit Syrians to follow the proceedings. “These proceedings help to reveal the truth about the involvement of international private actors in egregious crimes committed in Syria. Alongside the victims of ISIS terrorism, Lafarge’s Syrian workers deserve reparation in this case,” said Teresa Quadt, Team Lead of the Trial Monitoring program at SJAC.
Lafarge remains under investigation for complicity in crimes against humanity committed by ISIS in Syria, a historic first for a corporation. This could lead to a possible second trial against Lafarge in France.
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The Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) is a Syrian civil society organization working towards a Syrian state defined by justice, respect for human rights, and the rule of law, where citizens from all components of Syrian society live in peace without fear. Its mission is to promote justice and accountability in Syria by ensuring that human rights violations are comprehensively documented, and that documentation data is securely preserved, cataloged, and analyzed to advance transitional justice and peacebuilding.
For inquiries in Arabic or English, please contact:
Eva Lajarige
Trial Monitor
For inquiries in English, please contact:
Michael Ader
Communications Officer
Cell Phone: +1-801-970-3065
Teresa Quadt
Team Lead Trial Monitoring