French Cement Giant Convicted of Financing Terrorism

A Paris court convicted French cement company Lafarge and eight former executives of financing terrorism after finding they paid roughly $5.9 million to jihadist groups, including ISIS and Al-Nusrah Front, to keep its Jalabiyeh plant in northern Syria operating during the civil war. Several executives received prison sentences and fines were levied against the company for terrorism financing and customs sanctions violations; the ruling was hailed by the NGO Sherpa as precedent-setting for corporate liability in conflict zones.