French court rules Lafarge guilty of funding Syria jihadists

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PARIS: A French court ruled on Monday that the cement conglomerate Lafarge is guilty of financing the Islamic State and other jihadist factions to ensure the continued operation of its business in war-torn Syria.

The court determined that the company which has since merged with the Swiss giant Holcim funneled millions of dollars through its subsidiary, Lafarge Cement Syria (LCS), between 2013 and 2014. These payments were made to intermediaries and militant groups to keep a manufacturing plant running in northern Syria amidst the height of the conflict.

In a stern verdict, presiding judge Isabelle Prevost-Desprez noted that this systematic funding was instrumental in allowing terrorist organizations, specifically the Islamic State, to seize control of Syria's natural resources. The judge emphasized that these funds directly enabled the group to finance extremist activities both within the Middle East and abroad, including several attacks planned across Europe.

Photo Credits: AFP