To secure the loyalty of the Shia population during the war , Saddam allowed more Shias into the Ba'ath Party and the government , and improved Shia living standards , which had been lower than those of the Iraqi Sunnis . Saddam had the state pay for restoring Imam Ali 's tomb with white marble imported from Italy . The Baathists also increased their policies of repression against the Shia . The most infamous event was the massacre of 148 civilians of the Shia town of Dujail
massacre of 148 civilians
Dujail Massacre
Sectarian violence in Iraq