By Merve Berker
French multinational cement company Lafarge SA and four of its former executives are set to stand trial for financing terrorism in Syria, as ordered by investigating judges on Oct. 16, media reports said Wednesday.
This legal decision marks a significant step after eight years of proceedings initiated by Sherpa and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) human rights organizations.
The charges stem from allegations that Lafarge financed various armed groups, including the Daesh/ISIS terror group, to maintain operations at its Syrian cement plant amid the ongoing civil war.
"Lafarge is the first company globally to be charged with complicity in crimes against humanity," said Sherpa and ECCHR, highlighting the serious implications of the case.
They noted that “acts of complicity cannot go unpunished” and must be addressed to uphold justice.
Lafarge and four former executives, including two who oversaw security at the Syrian facility and Syrian businessman Firas Tlass, face charges of financing a terror enterprise and violating a European embargo.
Charges against Lafarge's former security director, however, have been dismissed.
The trial will not allow Syrian employees to seek compensation, as their status as plaintiffs, was deemed inadmissible.
While the trial addresses the financing of terrorism, the investigation into Lafarge’s alleged complicity in crimes against humanity continues.
The French Supreme Court previously acknowledged the seriousness of the charges, emphasizing that "the multiplication of acts of complicity enables crimes against humanity."
Sherpa and ECCHR remain committed to supporting the plaintiffs in their pursuit of justice and reparation, underscoring the struggle for accountability in the landmark case.