That entire region is all about picking the lesser evil rather than who is a decent human being as leader. Too many roaches that need to be stepped on hard for there to be anything other than an iron fist wielded. The Assads also gave their own Alawite brethren a shit kicking in the 70s for getting out of line.
$1:
After all, Saddam was a monster as well, but he too "had all the dogs on a leash."
he was also the recipient of an international award for improving the lot of women in Iraq. I think it was UNESCO that gave him the award for improving educational opportunities for girls.
People often use Turkey as an example of a modern secular and egalitarian society in the Islamic world. There was a lot of blood spilled by military coups to ensure that could happen.