A court in Paris ruled on Monday that the French cement company Lafarge, now owned by Swiss building materials giant Holcim, is guilty of paying millions of dollars to extremist groups, including Islamic State (IS), to keep its factory operating during the Syrian Civil War.

According to the court, payments were made in 2013 and 2014 through the company’s subsidiary, Lafarge Cement Syria (LCS), to jihadist organizations and intermediaries controlling territory in northern Syria. The payments were intended to ensure that Lafarge could continue running its cement plant despite the escalating conflict and the presence of armed groups.

Presiding judge Isabelle Prévost-Desprez stated that the financial support provided by the company played a significant role in enabling extremist organizations, particularly ISIS, to strengthen their control over natural resources in Syria.

“The method of financing terrorist organisations, and primarily IS, was essential in enabling the terrorist organisation to gain control of Syria’s natural resources,” the judge said. She added that these resources were used to fund terrorist activities in the region and attacks planned abroad, including in Europe.