France’s top criminal court of appeal is expected to decide whether French cement giant Lafarge can be investigated for complicity in crimes against humanity for its activities in ISIL-controlled areas of Syria between 2012 and 2014.

The company is already under investigation for financing terrorism, violating sanctions, and endangering the lives of employees.

If judges decide Lafarge can face charges of crimes against humanity, it would be the first time that a company in the European Union would face such an investigation.

The initial ruling was expected on July 15 but was postponed to Sept 7.

The Lafarge/Syria case remains a milestone in the fight against corporate impunity even though French courts revoked the indictment for complicity in crimes against humanity in November 2019.

The Investigation Chamber of the Paris Court of Appeals confirmed the charges against the multinational for deliberately endangering the lives of its Syrian subsidiary workers and for financing terrorism in relation to large amounts of money transfers allegedly made to the Islamic State.

The judicial inquiry, in which eight former Lafarge executives are also indicted, remains open against the company on all charges.

Aljazeera/Agencies.