Shamima Begum's jihadi husband has refused to condemn ISIS beheadings or the use of sex slaves and said he still hopes to see a caliphate established.
Speaking in an interview from Kurdish-run al-Roj prison in northern Syria, Yago Riedijk, 29, described the couple's 'beautiful' former life under the extremist group.
He said ISIS-claimed attacks on the West were not 'Islamicly responsible' because they involved killing innocent people which is 'prohibited in Islam' but refused to condemn the group's violence against Yazidis, who were sold as sex slaves, and other Muslims.
Riedijk also stayed silent on ISIS beheadings, saying only 'I can't really comment' when pushed to condemn the extremist group's brutal punishments.
The 29-year-old later said he did not believe ISIS was finished and said he still hoped to see a caliphate which adheres to 'Islamic traditions' established.
He smiled as he spoke about married life with Begum in the caliphate and described 'beautiful memories' of baking cakes as a family.
The Dutch extremist married Begum days after she arrived in Syria from East London, aged 15, in 2015 and the couple had three children together, all of whom have died.
Begum is being held in Kurdish-run refugee camp al-Roj in northern Syrian amid an ongoing battle to return to the UK after she was stripped of her citizenship in February 2019.
Riedijk is being held in al-Roj detention centre. He was convicted in a Netherlands court in 2018 for joining the extremist group and will face a six-year jail term if he ever tries to return to Europe.
Riedijk married Shamima Begum (pictured with her son Jerah in 2019), days after she arrived in Syria from East London, aged 15, in 2015 and the couple had three children together, all of whom have died
Begum (pictured) is being held in Kurdish-run refugee camp al-Hol in northern Syrian amid an ongoing battle to return to the UK after she was stripped of her citizenship in February 2019
Speaking to Alan Duncan, a former Scots soldier who is making a documentary on ISIS, Riedijk said he did not agree with ISIS-claimed terror attacks on Germany, France and the UK because they involved killing 'innocent people'.
'Personally, I don't agree with these attacks for a couple of reasons. The prohibition of killing innocent people in Islam, women and children.
'I see these attacks as not being Islamicly responsible [sic],' he said.
However, questioned about attacks on other Muslims and Yazidis - who were sold to ISIS fighters as sex slaves - Riedijk shook his head and said 'no comment'.
More than 2,800 Yazidi women and children are still missing and are thought to be being held by ISIS.
Riedijk also revealed he discussed marriage directly with Begum when she arrived in Syria in 2015 and agreed on conditions before they tied the knot.
'It was not really anything big. Small things like going out shopping - stuff like this. She asked for some freedoms which I agreed to give her. Going shopping, seeing friends. Basic stuff,' he said.
He said Begum asked for a dowry of an English translation of the Quran, which he agreed to.
He smiled on camera as he recalled the family baking cakes to make money while Begum was pregnant with their second son Jalah.
'There were some nice days with my wife and kids at home. Some beautiful memories,' he said.
The Dutch husband of Shamima Begum, Yago Riedijk, (pictured) has described 'beautiful memories' of their family life under the ISIS caliphate in an interview from prison
Riedijk (pictured in the Netherlands in 2011) also revealed he discussed marriage directly with Begum when she arrived in Syria in 2015 and agreed on conditions before they tied the knot
Riedijk said he found it hard to take that Begum had two miscarriages, before giving birth to their three children. Talking about the first miscarriage, he said: 'It was difficult to take. I'm a family man, I love family, I love children.'
He added Begum got pregnant immediate after the first miscarriage but lost the baby for the second time.
The 29-year-old added that while living in the caliphate he contacted his family back home more often than Begum spoke to hers, but declined to elaborate.
Riedijk also refused to comment much on how Begum viewed ISIS's beheadings and punishments. But he described seeing corpses left on the street as an example as 'not a pleasant picture', but refused to condemn the act as wrong.
'I can't really comment', he said.
He went on to describe death as part of daily life, blaming coalition bombing for the killing of innocent Muslims.
Asked if ISIS was finished, Riedijk said 'no', later adding when questioned that he would like to see a caliphate which adheres to 'Islamic traditions' established.
Begum was one of three schoolgirls from Bethnal Green Academy who went to join ISIS, shortly after Sharmeena Begum, who is no relation, travelled to Syria in December 2014.
Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase, then 16 and 15 respectively, joined Begum on a flight from London to Istanbul before making their way to Syria.
