French court rules cement giant can face Syrian war crime charges
French cement manufacturer Lafarge could face charges related to “crime against humanity” for its operations in war-torn Syria, according to Middle East Eye, January 16.
France’s highest court ((The Court of Cassation) dismissed the controversial company’s protests against looking into accusations that they were complicit in war crimes in the Middle Eastern country.
An investigation against Lafarge has been ongoing since the breakout of the civil war in 2011, erupting due to Syrian President Assad’s hostile response to peaceful pro-democracy demos.
The decision, affirming a previous ruling by a lower court, does not constitute a judgment of guilt. This particular verdict allows a concrete investigation into Lafarge’s potential criminal responsibility, notably the aforementioned “crimes against humanity” accusation.
READ: Assad issued with international arrest warrant
In what was a mere consolation for the Paris-based manufacturer, France’s high court quashed charges that refer to endangering the lives of employees in Syria.
Notably in 2018, the cement giant was found guilty of being complicit in crimes against humanity as well as financing terrorist groups in the country the latter of which the company has denied on numerous occasions.
There were speculations that it sold cement to prominent terror organisation ISIS and paying them and other gunmen to keep a factory open in Jalabiya, situated near Raqqa in northern Syria.
The city of Raqqa is notorious for its high presence of Daesh fighters and was captured by the group in 2014.
It is believed that, for a long period, France was aware of Lafarge’s cooperation with IS and that multiple reports on the matter have been carried out.
Middle East Eye/ France 24
