There seems a rather naive tendency to suggest that "democracy" - meaning a system where goverments have come to power through free elections - is somehow incompatible with oppression and torture.   It would be good if that were true, but it ain't necessarily so.

Historically of course the most obvious and extreme example of that is Nazi Germany, but there are plenty more cases. For example, at various times France, the UK, Israel, Russia and the USA.

There is no reason to assume that a democratic Iraq will be that different in that respect.