France’s top court to decide on war crime charges against Lafarge

A Criminal Court of Appeal in France is expected to decide whether one of the country’s largest companies can be investigated for its role in the Syrian war.
Since 2017, judges have been investigating allegations that Lafarge paid armed groups - including ISIL (ISIS) - $15m in protection money to keep its Syrian plant running between 2012 and 2014, at the height of the country’s civil war.
Lafarge is also accused of selling cement for ISIL and sourcing raw materials from militants.
The company, which merged with Swiss firm Holcim in 2015, admits to some mistakes but denies most charges.
The proceedings against Lafarge result from a complaint filed by the French finance ministry, 11 former Syrian employees and two NGOs.

Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler reports from Paris, France.

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