He assumed the image of hero, savior etc. Most people have no idea who ruled before him, it is those before him that built a good prosperous state. He inherited it and took it to utter shit.
He did a lot, threw people off of high buildings, cut off limbs etc. That stuff has been taped and still exists out there on the internet. Point is those same Arabs who hate Assad worship him lol.
If you google 'fedayeen Saddam' i'm sure you can find content, maybe google it in Arabic though. It is funny how the Assad opposition sees him as a symbol of leadership whilst he is Assad's father in terms of brutality, it's just that he stood against Iran that's the only difference