Paris justice system continues to investigate Lafarge for activities in Syria “It is a risk to simply take immigration for granted”

The French judiciary continues its investigation against French cement manufacturer Lafarge for complicity in crimes against humanity in Syria. The Court of Cassation, France’s highest court, has rejected an appeal by Swiss parent company LafargeHolcim against the procedure, the court announced in Paris on Tuesday.

Despite the ongoing civil war, the cement manufacturer operated a factory in northern Syria until 2014. To maintain operations, the local company paid millions of dollars to armed groups. At the time, the Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia, smaller Islamist groups and Kurdish groups were active in northern Syria.

Decisions have already been made by various agencies as to whether Lafarge’s activities in Syria provide any basis for investigation. In an earlier ruling, the Court of Cassation stated that one can also be an unintentional accomplice to crimes. The fact that the money was paid to maintain the business operations was not decisive.

However, the Court of Cassation decided on Tuesday to close the investigation against Lafarge over allegations of endangering its employees in Syria. French labor law, which contains a corresponding passage, did not apply to workers in Syria. (sda/dpa)