Former ISIS member explains why he left terror group (video interview)

A former member of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has given CBS News a detailed look at what life is like under the terror group's reign. The man, whose voice is altered and whose face we cannot show, recently left ISIS and is trying to get home. He was interviewed by CBS News correspondent Clarissa Ward.

Abu Ibrahim is one of thousands of westerners who have traveled to Syria to fight jihad.

"A lot of people when they come, they have a lot of enthusiasm about what they've seen online or what they've seen on YouTube," Ibrahim told me. "They see it as something a lot grander than what the reality is. It's not all military parades or it's not all victories."

A convert to Islam, Ibrahim wanted the chance to live under strict Islamic Sharia law so he joined the most extreme group there - ISIS. During his six months with the militants he saw crucifixions. In December, he witnessed the stoning to death of a couple convicted of adultery.

"It was done publicly," said Ibrahim. "There were many hundreds of people there who observed. While seeing someone die is not something anyone would probably want to see, having the actual Sharia established is what many Muslims look forward to."

Ibrahim told me the methods don't strike him as medieval: "It's harsh, it's real but it's the Sharia," he said.

Abu Ibrahim is a real piece of work. He saw nothing wrong in having two people stoned to death after having been convicted of adultery. Would Mr. Ibrahim have the same cavalier attitude if these types of trials and executions were taking place in his home country? Probably not as he would say the accused should be afforded equal protection under the law.