IS bride Shamima Begum's husband tells of 'nightmare' of death of their child

<em>Shamima Begum’s jihadi husband has told of their ‘nightmare’ after their baby died (Picture: PA)</em>
Shamima Begum’s jihadi husband has told of their ‘nightmare’ after their baby died (Picture: PA)

The husband of IS bride Shamima Begum has told of the couple’s “nightmare” after their baby died in a Syrian refugee camp.

Yago Riedijk, 27, who is from the Netherlands, told The Times Begum, 19, was “the perfect wife”.

Begum, from the UK, was just 15 when she fled to Syria to join IS in 2015.

She was tracked down to a refugee camp earlier this year, heavily pregnant, and wanted to return to the UK.

But her return was blocked by Home Secretary Sajid Javid, who stripped the teenager of her British citizenship.

Begum gave birth but the baby was confirmed to have later died. The baby was her third child with husband Riedijk and the couple’s first two children reportedly also died of malnutrition.

Riedijk told The Times: “Me and her, we loved them so much it’s a nightmare. It’s the worst thing that could ever happen. She’s just alone, heartbroken, having lost three children.”

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Riedijk’s comments echo those of Begum’s lawyer Tasnime Akunjee, who said the 19-year-old was sick and traumatised after the death of her baby.

The lawyer said he had tried to visit the refugee camp in Syria but said he was stopped from seeing her.

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