France: Multinational company faces charges of financing Syrian terrorism

The allegations relate to the conduct of Lafarge Cement Syria, a subsidiary of French-based Lafarge SA, between 2011 and 2014.

Parent company LafargeHolcim has admitted that the Syrian company “provided funds to third parties to work out arrangements with a number of armed groups, which included sanctioned parties”.

It is alleged that Lafarge Cement Syria paid up to €13 million to militant groups including the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) in exchange for freedom of movement for its employees and materials.

Eight former Lafarge executives are also under investigation.

Judges agreed to indict Lafarge SA after submissions from French rights group Sherpa and the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), along with 11 former employees.

In a statement, Miriam Saage-Maass, legal director at the ECCHR, said Lafarge’s activities in Syria “are a perfect illustration of how multinationals can fuel conflicts and human rights violations”.

She added: “That the justice system finally acknowledges the scope and gravity of these allegations is a major breakthrough, as well as another step forward for the plaintiffs.”

Beat Hess, chairman of the board of LafargeHolcim, said: “We truly regret what has happened in the Syria subsidiary and after learning about it took immediate and firm actions. None of the individuals put under investigation is today with the company.

“LafargeHolcim was formed in 2015 out of two proud champions, each with a tradition reaching back over 100 years. Prior to the merger the Lafarge Group had a comprehensive compliance program which was breached. We have further strengthened the compliance program and culture since the merger, to make sure that similar mistakes will not happen again. I believe our compliance culture is strong through our entire Group and with our dedicated employees we will overcome individual wrongdoings.”