​​​​​​PARIS

The verdict in the trial of French cement company Lafarge, charged with “financing a terrorist organization," will be announced April 13, 2026.

Lafarge, along with eight former executives, faced charges at the Paris Criminal Court for allegedly making payments to terror groups during the company’s operations in Syria between 2013 and 2014.

A six-week trial concluded with defendants and their lawyers presenting final statements.

Solange Doumic, lawyer for former Deputy Chief of Operations Christian Herrault, argued that the payments were made solely to protect the safety of Lafarge employees in Syria and were not for personal gain.

Doumic said that "all defendants had no sympathies toward terrorist groups," and French intelligence authorities were aware of the payments.

Quentin de Margerie, lawyer for former CEO Bruno Lafont, said Lafont was unaware of the payments and only decided to close the Syrian plant when he became aware of the payments.

Other defendants, including former security staff member Ahmad Al Jaloudi, denied any personal involvement in funding ISIS.

The Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) had requested prison sentences ranging from 18 months to eight years, fines for the defendants and partial seizure of Lafarge's assets.

Prosecutors also demanded a €1.125 million ($1.32 million) fine for the company, along with a €4.57 million customs penalty for violating EU embargoes prohibiting any financial or commercial relations with terrorist organizations.

Anadolu published evidence proving Lafarge financed ISIS terror group

On Sept. 7, 2021, Anadolu drew international attention by publishing documents proving that Lafarge financed the ISIS (Daesh) terror group with the knowledge of French intelligence.

As part of an investigation launched in June 2017, several senior executives, including Lafont, were charged with financing terrorism.

On Oct. 16, 2024, three investigating judges decided that the Lafarge group and four of its former executives would stand trial on charges of financing a terror group and violating the EU embargo that bans all financial and commercial relations with terror groups, including ISIS.