Syria had a Christian population of 1,500,00 in 2011 and today it is 300,000. Iraq had a low estimate of 1,200,000 Christians in 2002 and today it is 150,000. Libya had a Christian population around 300,000 in 2011 and today it is around 30,000. These brutal dictators kept the Islamic fanatics in line and prevented them from unleashing their campaigns of terror.
Although I don’t see Assad as a brutal dictator, he also protected Christians in Syria.
Even North Korea, speaking of dictators, has a Russian orthodox church and the attendees are safe under Kim.