Paris judiciary continues to investigate Lafarge over Syria activities
Published: Tuesday, Jan 16th 2024, 18:31
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France's judiciary is continuing its investigation against the French cement manufacturer Lafarge for aiding and abetting crimes against humanity in Syria. The Court of Cassation, the highest French court, dismissed an appeal by the Swiss parent company LafargeHolcim against the proceedings, as the court announced in Paris on Tuesday.
Despite the ongoing civil war, the cement manufacturer operated a plant in northern Syria until 2014. In order to maintain operations, the local company paid millions of euros to armed groups. At that time, the Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia, smaller Islamist groups and Kurdish groups were active in northern Syria.
The question of whether Lafarge's activities in Syria provide any basis for investigations has already been decided by several courts. In an earlier decision, the Court of Cassation held that it is possible to aid and abet crimes without intending to do so. The fact that the money had been paid in order to maintain the business activities was not decisive.
However, the Court of Cassation ruled on Tuesday that investigations against Lafarge on the accusation of endangering its employees in Syria should be discontinued. French labor law, which contains a corresponding passage, did not apply to the employees in Syria.
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