Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein, ruled Iraq from 1979 until his ignominious capture in 2003. Upon rising to power, like many despots do, he purged the party that got him there in what is called the Ba'ath Party Purge.

He exclusively installed Sunnis in positions of power throughout the country even though they were a 20% minority of the population.

He initiated the Iran-Iraq war which cost 1 million lives.

What that was over, he carried out the brutal Anfal campaign against Kurds, recognized by Human Rights Watch as an act of genocide.

He used imprisonment, torture, and execution as means to control the majority Shi'a. Saddam's rule was marked by numerous human rights abuses, including an estimated 250,000 arbitrary deaths and disappearances.

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saddam_Hussein

https://euaa.europa.eu/country-guidance-iraq-2021/crimes-committed-during-regime-saddam-hussein