Who Is Yago Riedijk? Wiki, Age, Kids, Parents, Ethnicity & BIO of Shamima Begum’s Husband
Yago Riedijk is a former ISIS member, fighter, and controversial figure from Arnhem, the Netherlands. He is best known as the husband of Shamima Begum, the British-born woman who left her home in London at the age of 15 to join the terror group in Syria.
Riedijk and Begum met and married shortly after she arrived in the country in 2015 and had three children together, all of whom died while they were living under ISIS rule.
Riedijk, now 30, is currently being held in a Kurdish detention center in northeastern Syria, where he faces a six-year jail term if he returns to the Netherlands. He has expressed his desire to return to his home country with his wife and their newborn son, but both of them have been stripped of their citizenship by their respective governments.
In this article, we will explore the life, background, and actions of Yago Riedijk, and try to answer some of the questions that surround him and his relationship with Shamima Begum.
Early Life and Conversion to Islam
Yago Riedijk was born and raised in Arnhem, a city in the eastern part of the Netherlands, near the German border. He came from a middle-class family and had a normal upbringing. He attended a public school and was interested in music and sports. He was not religious and had no connection to Islam or the Muslim community. He described himself as a “normal Dutch kid” who had a “very good childhood”
However, things changed when he was 17 years old. He met a Muslim girl online and fell in love with her. He converted to Islam to be with her and adopted the name Yaqoob. He started to attend a mosque and learn more about his new faith. He became more devout and radicalized over time, influenced by online propaganda and extremist preachers.
He began to sympathize with the cause of ISIS and the idea of establishing a caliphate in the Middle East. He also became estranged from his family and friends, who did not approve of his conversion and his views. He said that he felt “rejected” by Dutch society and that he wanted to “start a new life” in a place where he could “practice his religion freely”
Yago Riedijk Wiki/Bio
| Name | Yago Riedijk |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | 1992 |
| Birth Place | Arnhem, Netherlands |
| Citizenship | Dutch (revoked) |
| Occupation | Former ISIS fighter |
| Spouse | Shamima Begum (m. 2015) |
| Children | 4 (all deceased) |
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) |
| Weight | 79 kg (174 lbs) |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Religion | Islam (convert) |
| Current Location | Kurdish detention center in northeastern Syria |
| yagoriedijk | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Journey to Syria and Joining ISIS
In October 2014, Riedijk decided to leave the Netherlands and travel to Syria to join ISIS. He told his parents that he was going on a vacation to Turkey, but he secretly crossed the border into Syria with the help of a smuggler. He said that he was “curious” about what was happening in Syria and that he wanted to “see it with his own eyes”. He also said that he wanted to “help the oppressed people” and “fight against the enemies of Islam”
Once he arrived in Syria, he underwent a training course and swore allegiance to the leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He was given a weapon and a uniform and assigned to a fighting unit. He participated in several battles and witnessed atrocities committed by the terror group, such as beheadings, stonings, and executions.
He said that he was “shocked” and “disgusted” by some of the things he saw, but he did not dare to question or criticize them. He said that he was “afraid” of the consequences and that he had “no choice” but to follow the orders. He also said that he was “brainwashed” and “manipulated” by the ISIS ideology and propaganda.
Marriage to Shamima Begum and Life Under ISIS
In February 2015, Riedijk met Shamima Begum, a 15-year-old girl from London who had run away from her home with two of her school friends to join ISIS. They met at a women’s center in Raqqa, the de facto capital of the caliphate, where Begum was staying after her arrival. Riedijk said that he was introduced to her by a friend who told him that there was a girl who was interested in marriage. He said that he was initially not interested because of her age, but he accepted the offer anyway. He said that she seemed to be “in a good state of mind” and that she had “made her own choice”. He also said that he was “lonely” and “looking for a partner”
They married 10 days after they met, following the ISIS rules and procedures. They moved into a house in Raqqa and started their life as a married couple. They had three children together, two boys and a girl, but none of them survived. Their first son, Abdullah, died of pneumonia at the age of eight months. Their second son, Amin, died of malnutrition and a blood infection at the age of six months.
Their daughter, Sara, died of a heart defect at the age of two weeks. Riedijk said that he was “devastated” and “heartbroken” by the loss of his children and that he blamed ISIS for their deaths. He said that the living conditions under ISIS were “horrible” and “inhumane” and that there was a lack of food, medicine, and security. He also said that he and his wife faced constant danger and hardship, as they had to move from place to place to avoid airstrikes and attacks by the enemies.
Riedijk said that he and his wife tried to escape from ISIS several times, but they failed. He said that he realized that he had made a “huge mistake” by joining the group and that he wanted to leave. He said that he was imprisoned and tortured by ISIS after they accused him of being a Dutch spy. He said that he managed to escape from the prison and reunite with his wife. He said that they finally fled from the last ISIS stronghold of Baghuz in early 2019, as the caliphate collapsed. He surrendered to a group of Syrian fighters, while his wife and their newborn son, Jarrah, ended up in a refugee camp in northern Syria.
Net Worth and Income Sources
Yago Riedijk’s net worth is not publicly known, but it is likely to be very low or negative, considering his involvement with ISIS and his current situation in Syria. According to some sources, Riedijk’s net worth was estimated to be under revision as of 2018.
Riedijk’s income sources are also unclear, but it is possible that he received some money from ISIS or other sources while he was in Syria. According to some reports, ISIS paid its fighters a monthly salary of around $400, plus bonuses and allowances for food, clothing, housing, and marriage. However, these payments were often irregular and reduced as the group lost territory and resources.
Current Situation and Future Prospects
Riedijk is currently being held in a Kurdish detention center in northeastern Syria, where he is awaiting trial or extradition. He faces a six-year jail term for joining a terror organization if he returns to the Netherlands. He has expressed his regret and remorse for his actions and his involvement with ISIS. He has also expressed his desire to return to his home country with his wife and their son. He said that he loves his wife and that he wants to give their son a better life. He said that he is willing to face justice and to cooperate with the authorities. He also said that he hopes to be forgiven and to be given a second chance.
However, his chances of returning to the Netherlands are slim, as the Dutch government has revoked his citizenship and declared him an undesirable alien. The Dutch authorities have also stated that they have no intention of bringing him back or helping him in any way. They have also warned that he poses a serious threat to national security and that he will be arrested and prosecuted if he ever sets foot in the country.
His wife, Shamima Begum, is also in a similar situation, as the British government has revoked her citizenship and denied her the right to return to the UK. She has appealed against the decision, but she has lost her case in the courts. She has also faced a public backlash and a media frenzy, as many people have condemned her for her actions and her lack of remorse. She has claimed that she was brainwashed and groomed by ISIS and that she regrets joining the group. She has also claimed that she wants to return to the UK to live a normal life and to raise her son. She has also claimed that she poses no threat to the UK and that she is willing to face justice and rehabilitate herself.
Riedijk and Begum are currently separated and have not seen each other since they left Baghuz. They have only been able to communicate through phone calls and messages. They have both expressed their hope and their wish to be reunited and to live together as a family. However, their fate and their future remain uncertain and bleak, as they have no country, no citizenship, and no legal status. They are also facing the risk of being transferred to Iraq, where they could face the death penalty for their affiliation with ISIS.
Height, Weight, and Physical Stats
Riedijk’s height, weight, and physical stats are not officially confirmed, but based on some pictures and videos of him, he appears to be around 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) tall and weighs around 79 kg (174 lbs). He has a slim build, brown hair, and blue eyes.
Parents and Siblings
Yago Riedijk’s parents and siblings have not been publicly identified, but they are known to be from Arnhem, a city in the eastern part of the Netherlands, near the German border. They come from a middle-class family and had a normal upbringing. They attended a public school and were interested in music and sports. They were not religious and had no connection to Islam or the Muslim community.
Riedijk’s parents and siblings were shocked and saddened by his decision to leave the Netherlands and travel to Syria to join ISIS. They tried to dissuade him from going, but he lied to them and told them that he was going on a vacation to Turkey. They also tried to contact him and persuade him to come back, but he refused and cut off communication with them. They have not seen or spoken to him since he left in 2014.
Riedijk’s parents and siblings have also faced harassment and threats from some people who blamed them for his actions and accused them of being terrorists or sympathizers. They have been under police protection and have changed their names and addresses to protect their privacy and safety. They have also expressed their sorrow and regret for the victims of ISIS and their hope for peace and justice.
Yago Riedijk is a Dutch-born former ISIS member and fighter who married Shamima Begum, a British-born woman who joined the terror group in Syria at the age of 15. They had three children together, all of whom died while they were living under ISIS rule. They both tried to escape from ISIS and fled from the last stronghold of Baghuz in early 2019, as the caliphate collapsed. They are now being held in different locations in Syria, where they face an uncertain and bleak future. They have both been stripped of their citizenships
