American ISIS defector describes experience to discourage others from joining

An American man who had joined and later escaped ISIS shared his story in the hope of discouraging others from joining the terror group.

In an interview with NBC News, the man called "Mo" explained how he was seduced into joining ISIS. He was still studying at Columbia University when he became interested in his Islamic heritage.

He said one of the courses in school, called "Muslims in Diaspora," allowed him to see the film "Submission." The video made him feel humiliated as a Muslim, and he began to dig deeper about Islam. It was in this season of seeking answers that he became interested in ISIS.

At the time, the Muslim extremist group had not yet released online videos of beheadings. Mo was caught in the idea of having a pure Islamic state as he continued his research about ISIS and Islam.

The FBI took notice of his online activities and paid him a visit. Sensing that Mo was planning to join ISIS, FBI agents told him not to go to Syria. Mo, however, already made up his mind.

He wrote a farewell letter to his parents and flew to Turkey in 2014. From there, he found his way to Urfa, a Turkish city near Raqqa, and checked into a hotel.

Using his Twitter account, he asked how he could travel from Urfa to Raqqa, and someone gave him a number to call. When he called the number, someone asked for his location and told him he would be picked up.

After a brief problem with Turkish border patrol guards, Mo eventually made it to Syria along with others like him who decided to join ISIS. In Raqqa, Mo was officially registered under ISIS.

He noted in his registration form that he studied in Columbia, a school "for the clever," and that he had an idea to "break down" or crash an aircraft. He intentionally wanted to appear as a person with technical knowhow to avoid being assigned to fight.

In Syria, the violence appalled him. He received military and sharia law trainings. He was taught about suicide bombing and using an AK-47. On the streets, beatings of civilians and severed heads displayed on poles were a common sight.

"It was just not the Islam I grew up with," Mo said. "You could see madness in their eyes. People who just had a readiness for violence."

He was assigned an accounting position where he was heavily guarded. To earn favor from his guards, he exposed a thief, and he was rewarded with more leniency. This allowed him to go to internet cafes and search for maps.

When he learned there was a gate not controlled by ISIS, he took his chance and left for good.

"I packed whatever I could, whatever I thought I'd need and just literally walked out," he said.

Mo is prohibited from giving details about his escape, but he admitted somebody helped him. After spending five months in ISIS territory, Mo turned himself in to U.S. authorities.

Mo is now facing up to 25 years in prison. He is reportedly cooperating with the authorities in whatever way he can.

Mo is the first American ISIS defector that prosecutors allowed to have a live television interview because they wanted others to learn from him and not be persuaded to join ISIS.

"I've let my family down. I've let my nation down and I've let God down and I have a lot to make up for," Mo said.