FYF Joins 53 Civil Society Organizations and Individuals to Issue Joint Letter Urging U.S. Attorney General to Direct Lafarge Asset Forfeiture to Benefit Victims and Survivors
FYF has joined 53 civil society organizations and individuals in an open letter urging the US Department of Justice to direct forfeited assets from its case against Lafarge to benefit victims and survivors of underlying atrocity crimes linked to Syria.
In October 2022, the US government recovered $687 million forfeited from French cement company Lafarge after they admitted to making payments to ISIS and al-Nusra Front (ANF) from 2013-2014 to continue operating a cement plant in Northern Syria.
Communities affected by crimes in Syria—including Yezidis harmed by ISIS—have no access to effective remedies in Syria. The Lafarge settlement offered hope that they may receive long-overdue support to enable their recovery.
No government should profit from international law violations in Syria. We are gravely concerned that the Lafarge forfeiture will be retained for general US Government use and urge Attorney General Merrick Garland to earmark the funds to benefit victims and survivors.
To read full letter: Click Here
Cover photo by Julien Mattia