A French court has begun one of the most significant corporate trials in recent history, placing multinational cement producer Lafarge in the dock over allegations that it financed terrorist groups, including ISIS and al-Nusrah Front (ANF), during Syria’s brutal civil war. The case, which opened on November 4 at the Paris Criminal Court, raises grave questions about corporate ethics, complicity in war crimes, and the accountability of global companies operating in conflict zones.

The French prosecution alleges that between 2013 and 2014, Lafarge paid millions of euros to various armed factions in Syria to maintain operations at its plant in Jalabiyeh, located in the country’s volatile north. Among those allegedly receiving payments were ISIS and ANF – two of the most notorious jihadist groups that dominated parts of Syria during the conflict. The charges include “financing terrorism,” “complicity in crimes against humanity,” and “endangering the lives of others.”

The trial, which will run until December 16, is being closely watched by human rights groups, legal scholars, and multinational corporations. It represents one of the first times a major company has faced criminal prosecution for allegedly financing terrorism and violating international humanitarian norms.

Eight former executives, including Bruno Lafont, Lafarge’s chief executive officer from 2007 to 2015, are among the accused. Two Syrian intermediaries who allegedly facilitated the payments are also on trial. Prosecutors claim that the company funneled roughly $5.9 million to armed groups through monthly “security payments” and the purchase of raw materials – payments intended to guarantee safe passage for workers and goods in areas controlled by militant factions.

According to French judicial investigators, these arrangements effectively allowed Lafarge to continue operating its plant amid one of the world’s deadliest conflicts. The company is alleged to have prioritized profits over human lives and principles, keeping production running even as the surrounding region descended into chaos and violence.

Lafarge’s Syrian subsidiary had invested approximately $680 million........

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