You cannot have freedom without democracy (unless of course you're part of the ruling class). When someone else rules over you, you aren't free.
Democracy does not guarantee freedom but it greatly increases the chances and distributes it more equally. Your chance of being "tyrannized" by the majority is less than 50%. A ruling class you aren't part of will tyrannize you.
See the difference between saying democracy is necessary for freedom and saying that democracy obviates freedom. Parent comment only made claim to the former.
