Syrian migrant who lost baby on train journey gets asylum

Syrian migrants have been flooding to western Europe following years of conflict in their homeland Keystone

A Syrian woman who controversially experienced a miscarriage on a train sending her back to Italy through Switzerland has received asylum in Italy along with her family.

In July, the family of Syrian migrants had been travelling on a train from Milan to Paris – which passes through Switzerland – when they were turned back at the French-Swiss border with a group of fellow migrants.

While accompanied on the train back to Italy by Swiss border guards, the seven-month-pregnant woman began to bleed, but her husband’s repeated pleas for help were ignored by the Swiss, he told the media.

His wife had collapsed on the train platform in Domodossola, Italy – the first stop near the Swiss border – and was brought to a nearby hospital by ambulance. Her unborn baby was later found to be dead.

Following the incident, an investigation was launched into the Swiss border guards’ actions. It was found that mistakes may have been made and the issue was passed on to the military justice system, where it is now being investigated further.

In the coming weeks, the Syrian family will move to a centre for refugees near Milan, according to authorities in Domodossola.