Holcim faces fresh criminal charges for financing terrorism

Aggregate Industries’ parent company Holcim is in the news again for all the wrong reasons.

It’s over the company’s involvement in Syria – a subject we have posted about before. 

France’s top court has rejected the cement giant’s bid to dismiss charges of "complicity in crimes against humanity" for financing terrorism in Syria, overturning a previous ruling. 

The company has been accused of paying millions of euros to Daesh/ISIS to keep its Lafarge operation in Syria running. It is also accused of supplying cement to the terrorist group which "is known to have constructed fortified shelters and tunnel networks against the Coalition powers led by the US." 

In its ruling, the Court of Cassation said: 

In this case, the knowing payment of several million dollars to an organization whose purpose is exclusively criminal is sufficient to characterize the complicity, regardless of whether the concerned party is acting in pursuit of a commercial activity. 

 

BREAKING & SIGNIFICANT: Highest French court just decided cement manufacturer Lafarge CAN be prosecuted for "complicity in crimes against humanity" and "endangering the lives of others" during its activities in Syria. Bravo, @ECCHRBerlin & @Asso_Sherpa https://t.co/uZhhQdLNjV

— Fritz Streiff (@fritz_streiff) September 7, 2021

France – In a ground-breaking judgment rendered today, the French Supreme Court approved the indictments of the French multinational cement company Lafarge for complicity in crimes against humanity & financing of terrorism committed by the ISIS. Read More https://t.co/7cucEkwgDY

— Yazda (@YazdaOrg) September 7, 2021

Today's decision is first and foremost a victory for those affected by illegitimate business practices that put profits before human rights. It is important that big corporate actors are held to account for their wrongdoings so that those affected can finally achieve justice! pic.twitter.com/7npHaakZzg

— ECCHR (@ECCHRBerlin) September 7, 2021

8/ The case continues: the investigating chamber will have to rule again on Lafarge’s #ComplicityInCrimesAgainstHumanity taking into consideration today’s groundbreaking ruling. Stay tuned and contact us for further information.
presse@asso-sherpa.org pic.twitter.com/VEJEuupWP3

— Sherpa (@Asso_Sherpa) September 7, 2021

Earlier this year, the company changed its name from LafargeHolcim to Holcim in an effort no doubt to distance itself from controversy over Syria – as well as over Myanmar, human rights and pollution.