Lafarge SA
On 18 October 2022 Lafarge SA and Lafarge Cement Syria pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and al-Nusrah Front and were sentenced to fines and forfeiture of US$777.78 millionS1. The DOJ said about US$5.92 million went to the groups through intermediaries in 2013 and 2014S1. Holcim said none of the conduct involved it and that former executives concealed itS2. On 16 January 2024 France's highest court rejected Lafarge's bid to drop charges of complicity in crimes against humanityS5. On 13 April 2026 the Paris criminal court convicted Lafarge of financing terrorism, fined it EUR 1.125 million and convicted eight individual defendantsS3S7. All of them appealedS6.
- Also known as
- Lafarge, Lafarge Cement Syria, Holcim
- Headquarters
- France
- Records from
- United States, France
- Current status
- Lafarge SA is part of the Holcim group, which acquired it in July 2015S1S2. It was sentenced in the United States in October 2022 after a guilty pleaS1. The Paris criminal court convicted it of financing terrorism on 13 April 2026S3S7, and Lafarge and the eight other defendants appealedS6. A separate French investigation over complicity in crimes against humanity is ongoingS5S7.
Scope. This record covers Lafarge's Syrian plant payments and the US and French cases. Holcim is named as the acquirer and for its statements. It does not cover Holcim's other operations or Lafarge entities outside Syria.
Claims assessed
4 claims. Scores grade the evidence for each claim, not the organization.- Supported93Lafarge SA and Lafarge Cement Syria pleaded guilty in October 2022 in the United States to conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and al-Nusrah Front.Regulator statement, 18 October 20223 records citedSanctions
- Partly supported81Holcim said in October 2022 that none of the Syrian conduct involved Holcim, that former Lafarge executives concealed it, and that Holcim investigated proactively and voluntarily.Company statement, 18 October 20224 records citedSanctions
- Supported73A Paris court convicted Lafarge of financing terrorist organisations on 13 April 2026 and fined it more than EUR 1 million.Press report, 13 April 20263 records citedSanctions
- Partly supported67An April 2026 Al Jazeera report said Lafarge had seen a conviction on crimes against humanity charges confirmed by a French court.Press report, 13 April 20264 records citedCorporate status
Cases and proceedings
- United States v. Lafarge S.A. and Lafarge Cement Syria S.A.US District Court for the Eastern District of New York (Judge William F. Kuntz II). Criminal. Not published in the release read.Stage: Pleas entered and sentence imposed. Concluded.
- Guilty pleas, probation and US$777.78 million in fines and forfeitureS1
- French prosecution of Lafarge SA and eight individual defendantsParis criminal court. Criminal. Not published.Stage: First-instance judgment on 13 April 2026. Under appeal.
- French investigation of Lafarge SAFrench investigating judges, Paris, with review by the Cour de cassation. Criminal. Not published.Stage: Charge of complicity in crimes against humanity upheld on 16 January 2024. Investigation ongoing.
- Highest court rejects Lafarge's request to dismiss the chargeS5
Responses on record
- Holcim, 18 October 2022, on Holcim said in October 2022 that none of the Syrian conduct involved Holcim, that former L...
Holcim said it had separated from former executives involved and had never operated in Syria.S2
- Lafarge SA, 13 April 2026, on A Paris court convicted Lafarge of financing terrorist organisations on 13 April 2026 and ...
Lafarge said it acknowledged the court's finding on a legacy matter and was reviewing the reasoning. It later appealedS6.S4
Revision history
- Profile and 4 assessments first published. Records checked to 25 October 2026.
Source records
- S1Tier A Lafarge Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Foreign Terrorist OrganizationsUS Department of Justice. Regulator press release. 18 October 2022.Supports the pleas, the penalties, the payments and the findings on disclosure and cooperation. It does not name Holcim.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S3Tier C French court jails Lafarge ex-CEO for funding IS in SyriaThe Local France (AFP). Press report. 13 April 2026.AFP report of the Paris verdict, the fine and the sentences. Written on the day, it reports only the former chief executive's plan to appeal.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S7Tier C Tough verdict against cement group LafargeJustice Info (Chloé Dubois). Press report. 14 April 2026.Correspondent's report on the fines, the sentences and the crimes against humanity investigation. It is not the judgment.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S6Tier C Lafarge appeals conviction for financing terrorismKeystone-SDA via SWI swissinfo.ch. Press report. 28 April 2026.Swiss national news agency report, machine translated, that Lafarge and the other defendants appealed. No named reporter. Justice Info reports that defence lawyers announced appeals.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S5Tier D French Court Confirms Lafarge 'Complicity in Crimes Against Humanity' Charges Over Syria FactoryInternational Center for Transitional Justice. Press report. 22 January 2024.NGO news summary of the 16 January 2024 ruling. It is not the court text.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S2Tier B Holcim Affirms Support for Lafarge SA ResolutionHolcim. Company statement. 18 October 2022 (page undated, date taken from the linked documents).Holcim's position on the US resolution. It does not mention the French proceedings.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S4Tier C French court rules cement giant Lafarge guilty of funding Syria 'terrorism'Al Jazeera. Press report. 13 April 2026.Staff and agency report giving the fine, confiscation and Lafarge's reaction. Its reference to a confirmed crimes against humanity conviction is not supported by other records.Link working, checked 25 October 2026