PARIS (Dispatches) -- French cement giant Lafarge went on trial in Paris on Tuesday, accused of funneling millions of dollars to Daesh and other takfiri groups to keep its business running in war-torn Syria, a case that underscores Western hypocrisy in the country’s decade-long conflict.
Lafarge, now part of Swiss conglomerate Holcim, allegedly made payments via its subsidiary Lafarge Cement Syria (LCS) in 2013 and 2014 to secure access to raw materials, safe passage for trucks, and the continued operation of its factory in northern Syria, despite the region being dominated by violent takfiri factions, including Daesh and Al-Qaeda-linked groups. 
Defendants in the trial include Lafarge itself, former executives, security staff, and two Syrian intermediaries, one of whom is subject to an international arrest warrant.
In a parallel case in the United States, Lafarge pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to terrorist organizations and agreed to pay a $778 million fine—the first conviction of its kind against a corporation. 
French prosecutors have accused the firm of “funding terrorism” and violating international sanctions, with potential fines up to $1.2 million, plus additional penalties if sanctions breaches are confirmed. Holcim has denied knowledge of the Syria operations.
The case highlights the West’s controversial role in Syria. As the war intensified in 2012, Lafarge remained, leaving Syrian staff behind while evacuating expatriates. The payments facilitated the survival of takfiri groups that Western powers, including France, once tolerated or indirectly supported in a bid to topple President Bashar al-Assad.
Today, Syria is dominated by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by former Daesh and Al-Qaeda commander Abu Muhammad al-Jolani. Western countries—including France—are racing to establish ties with the de facto authorities, highlighting their hypocrisy. 
Lafarge’s Syria factory, valued at $680 million, was built before the war erupted in 2011. In 2013–2014, LCS allegedly negotiated directly with takfiri groups to maintain operations. 
Legal actions in France and the U.S. continue, including civil suits by Yazidi survivors accusing the firm of supporting atrocities.