Refugee who fled ISIS 'capital'

Humming neighborhood generators pierced the still air. The stars illuminated the surrounding landscape and their path to freedom from Raqqa, Syria -- ISIS's de facto capital city.

A smuggler had agreed to take the family of five across the border to Turkey for less than $500 -- still a lot of money for someone living on $150 a month.

As the family trudged through fields to avoid ISIS checkpoints, Suleiman's three children began to whimper and Suleiman cradled his youngest in his arms. They had to be quiet. If caught, the punishment would be severe. It's illegal to leave the so-called Islamic State.

The former teacher is now in relative safety in Turkey with his wife and children after making their escape. He spoke to CNN exclusively about the horror of life in Raqqa: being terrorized on the streets by ISIS and bombarded by warplanes from several nations. CNN cannot independently verify Suleiman's testimony and has not used his last name for his protection.

Suleiman supported the uprising against Bashar Al Assad -- but after years under ISIS Suleiman and his wife finally had enough.

"I left Raqqa for my children. Their lives were being destroyed," he said. "I came to Turkey to build a new future for them and delete everything they saw."

My kids recognized different war planes

ISIS has turned Raqqa -- once liberal and prosperous -- into a nightmare.

The group's extreme interpretation of Sharia law enforces brutal violence. Decapitated heads line the main square. Lifeless bodies left in the streets.

"My kids used to hide when they saw an ISIS fighter. I rarely allowed them in the streets. My wife became a prisoner in her own home," he said.

Life in a warzone -- with fighter jets from Russia and the U.S.-led coalition dropping bombs on the ISIS heartland -- began to affect the children.

He watched as their games evolved from playing with toys to make-believe guns.

"They started to tell the difference between Russian and American war planes," he said.

None of them have been able to attend school -- or at least a real school.

"They went for a week but then refused to go," he said. "There is no education. Five to 11-year-old kids are in the same class. Teachers don't show up and older kids harass them."

People join ISIS out of hunger

Despite ISIS's attempts to portray their so-called Islamic State as a paradise, daily life became unbearable for Suleiman's family.

"If it was a paradise, we wouldn't try to leave. Life is very difficult (there).

"You can count the number of doctors on one hand and they only service ISIS. Every day hundreds gather for free food hand outs. It's not a lot. You stand there being humiliated trying to get something to eat."

There is a way to survive under ISIS's brutal regime.

"ISIS gives anything for free to people who join them. The rest of us get nothing. There is no food, electricity or money. The people join ISIS out of hunger.

"They also put pressure on people to join by going after their livelihoods, saying 'You are with us or against us.'"

(СNN)