Fact check: If i remember correctly there was a french company that paid ISIS hundreds of millions to keep their cement factory in Syria working, I think they go with the most evil 5 companies ever.

1. Summary of the results

The core claim about a French company paying ISIS is confirmed across multiple sources, though with some important clarifications about the amounts involved. Lafarge, a French cement company, did make payments to ISIS and other armed groups between 2013-2014 ^[1]. However, the total amounts varied across sources:

• Approximately $10.24 million to ISIS, al-Nusrah Front, and intermediaries ^[2]
• Up to 13 million euros ($17.5 million) to various armed groups ^{[1] [1]}
• Monthly "donations" of $816,000 ^[3]

The company pleaded guilty in U.S. courts and agreed to pay a $777.8 million penalty ^{[1] [4]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial details were omitted from the original statement:

• The payments were structured through a "revenue-sharing agreement" where more cement sold meant more money paid to ISIS ^[3]
• The company internally referred to these payments as "taxes" ^[2]
• The payments continued while ISIS was actively conducting violent activities, including kidnapping and killing Westerners ^[2]
• Lafarge is currently facing trial in Paris in addition to their U.S. conviction ^[4]
• The company has been charged with complicity in crimes against humanity ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement contains two main inaccuracies:

1. The claim of "hundreds of millions" is significantly overstated. The actual payments were in the tens of millions at most ^{[1] [4] [2]}

2. The statement about being "among the most evil 5 companies ever" is a subjective assessment, though the U.S. Attorney did describe this as a "staggering crime" and "the unthinkable choice" ^{[2] [2]}

It's worth noting that this case represents a significant example of corporate complicity with terrorism, where business interests were prioritized over humanitarian concerns. The legal proceedings and substantial financial penalty ($778 million) reflect the severity of these actions ^[4].