There have been human rights violations in Iraq in all three major periods of recent history Specifically:

• Human rights in pre-Saddam Iraq (1920-1979)
• Human rights in Saddam Hussein's Iraq (1979-2003)
• Human rights in post-invasion Iraq (2003-), post Saddam Hussein.

In the current period there have been a number of human rights violations by both insurgents and coalition forces.

War crimes by insurgents include, but are not limited to, bombings, hostage taking, and beheading.

War crimes by the coalition forces include but are not limited to, prison scandals (Abu Ghraib prison), killing of innocent civilians and gang rape