Cement manufacturer Lafarge, owned by Swiss giant Holcim, and all eight other defendants, including its former CEO Bruno Lafont, have appealed their convictions for financing terrorism in Syria in 2013 and 2014. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox They were all found guilty on April 13 by the Paris Criminal Court of having paid nearly €5.6 million to armed jihadist groups in 2013 and 2014 in order to keep a cement plant operating in Jalabiya, in northern Syria. + Why big companies fear the Responsible Business Initiative The company, which, in the words of the lower court judgment, was “prepared to make any compromise with terrorist organisations”, was ordered to pay the maximum fine of €1.125 million, as well as a customs fine of €4.57 million, jointly and severally with four of its former executives, for failing to comply with international financial sanctions. In addition to the former flagship of French industry, which was swallowed up by its Swiss …