Detailed Timeline of Persecution of Muslims in Iraq
1. Early Theological Persecution (9th century)
Under the Abbasid Caliph al-Ma’mūn (r. 813–833), the theological doctrine of Mu‘tazilism was enforced. Noncompliance, such as with the belief that the Qur’an was created, led to severe punishments. Famous cases include the imprisonment and torture of Ahmad ibn Hanbal and the crucifixion of Ahmad ibn Nasr al-Khuza’i.Wiki2
2. Saddam Hussein’s Ba’athist Era (1968–2003)
a. Suppression of Shia Muslims
The Ba’ath regime targeted the Shia majority via arrests, executions, and suppression of religious expression—ranging from restrictions on Friday prayers and religious literature to surveillance of shrines and clerics.George W. Bush White House Archives+1
In 1991, massive Shia uprisings in southern Iraq were brutally crushed, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and mass displacement.New Statesman
b. Persecution of Feyli Kurds (Shia Kurds)
From around 1979 onward, the regime began targeting Feyli Kurds—Shiite Kurds—formally revoking their citizenship via Decree No. 666 in 1980. Reports estimate that between 300,000–500,000 were deported to Iran, and at least 25,000 were killed or disappeared. In 2011, the Iraqi Parliament recognized these actions as genocide.Wikipedia
3. Arabization Campaigns (1968–2003)
The Ba’athist regime implemented demographic engineering to change the ethnic makeup of northern Iraq. Over a period spanning 1968 to 2003, the campaign displaced over 2 million non-Arab minorities—including Kurds, Turkmen, Yazidis, Assyrians, and Armenians—and destroyed villages.Wikipedia
4. 1935 Yazidi Revolt
Although not Muslims, this revolt reflects ethnic/religious oppression in Iraq of minority groups. In October 1935, Yazidi tribes in the Sinjar Mountains revolted against the imposition of conscription. Over 200 villagers were killed and 11 villages destroyed by government forces under Yasin al-Hashimi.Wikipedia
5. Post-2003 Sectarian Violence
a. De-Ba’athification & Sunni Repression
After the 2003 invasion, de-Ba’athification removed many Sunni leaders from power, generating resentment and insurgency. Shia-dominated militias—many Iran-backed—targeted Sunni Arabs through abductions, torture, killings, and forced displacement, especially during the height of sectarian conflict from 2006 to 2014. Estimates suggest over 22,000 Sunnis were killed, and 1.5 million were displaced. Actions like forced home destruction and collective punishment were documented.Wikipedia
b. ISIS Atrocities (2014–2017)
The emergence of ISIS resulted in brutal violence against both Muslims and non-Muslims. Minority religious communities—including Christians, Yazidis, Turkmen—faced mass killings, sexual enslavement, and forced conversions—raising concerns of genocide.TIMEAP News
The Yazidis endured genocidal campaigns, rape, and abductions starting from August 2014.The Guardian
c. Collective Punishment After ISIS
After ISIS was driven out, Sunni civilians often became targets of revenge from government forces and militias. Many were denied return to their homes, faced property destruction, and were subject to extra-judicial measures with little accountability.Wikipedia
Final Thoughts
The oppression of Muslim groups in Iraq spans centuries and takes many forms—from sectarian theology-based persecution and authoritarian suppression, to ethnic cleansing, genocide, and post-conflict collective punishment. Each wave of violence has left deep scars and long-lasting consequences for communal harmony and social cohesion.