From 4 November to 16 December, French multinational Lafarge and several of its former executives will stand trial before the Paris Criminal Court for financing terrorist organizations during the Syrian civil war. This unprecedented case offers the French justice system a critical opportunity to assess the responsibilities of multinational corporations operating in conflict zones.
In 2016, media investigations revealed that Lafarge had made payments to armed groups, including the Islamic State, to keep its Syrian cement plant running during the war, despite serious risks to its employees. According to the figures established by the investigating judges, Lafarge allegedly paid over €5 million in the form of “security payments” and raw materials purchases.
In the wake of these revelations, Sherpa, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), and 11 former Syrian employees filed a criminal complaint against Lafarge, its Syrian subsidiary, and several executives for complicity in crimes against humanity, financing a terrorist enterprise, and endangering lives.
After eight years of judicial investigation, the company as a corporate entity and four of its former French executives will appear before the Paris Criminal Court tomorrow on charges of financing terrorist organizations and violating international sanctions. Two factory security managers and two Syrian intermediaries will also appear on charges of financing terrorism.
A critical milestone in the long battle led by former Syrian employees
Despite numerous legal challenges brought by Lafarge, a trial is now finally underway – marking a major milestone in the long legal battle led by former Lafarge employees and our organizations.
For the former employees who filed the complaint, this moment is long overdue. "Instead of investing in the protection of its Syrian employees during wartime, Lafarge was financing armed groups. Nine years after filing this complaint, we still hope for justice," said Mohammad, a former Lafarge employee in Syria and plaintiff in the case.
Several former Syrian employees will be present at the trial to testify about what they endured: including kidnappings and threats to their lives. More than a decade later, they will speak out in pursuit of justice and reparations.
As civil parties to the complaint, Sherpa and ECCHR will also be present. In keeping with our missions, we will pay close attention to the issues of corporate criminal liability and victims’ access to reparations.
The investigation into complicity in crimes against humanity continues
This trial, however, is by no means the final chapter in the legal process. Lafarge remains under formal investigation for complicity in crimes against humanity – a historic first for a corporation. The armed groups allegedly financed by Lafarge – primarily the Islamic State – have committed serious human rights violations against the Syrian population, including crimes against humanity and the genocide of the Yazidi people. The French Supreme Court already ruled in this case that “knowingly paying several million dollars to an organization whose sole purpose is criminal is sufficient to characterize complicity.”
However, the company will not be judged on this point during the trial that begins tomorrow, as the investigation is not complete and could lead to a possible second trial. Our organizations remain fully engaged in this part of the legal process, determined to uncover the full extent of Lafarge’s potential responsibility in the international crimes committed by the groups it allegedly financed.
This trial comes nearly one year after the fall of the Assad regime, against a backdrop of mounting calls for justice for crimes committed by all sides during the conflict. It is essential that accountability extends to all actors – including European economic players.
