Continued Controversies Related to Store Theft; Golriz Ghahraman, Iranian-Origin MP in New Zealand Resigns

Golriz Ghahraman, an Iranian-origin member of the New Zealand Parliament, resigned from her position on Tuesday, January 16, following reports in New Zealand media about her theft from clothing stores in Auckland and Wellington. This Iranian-origin MP, who is a member of the Green Party, did not directly address the allegations against her in her statement but mentioned that her behavior stemmed from 'stress' and 'personal trauma.' The former human rights lawyer added that her actions 'are not behavior that can be explained.' Ghahraman acknowledged that she has fallen short of the standards expected of politicians and needs time to address her mental health. In her statement, she said, 'The mental health expert I see says that my recent behavior correlates with recent events that lead to severe stress reactions and relates to unknown previous trauma.' The 42-year-old Ghahraman, born in Iran, came to New Zealand with her family as a child and received political asylum. After studying law, she became a UN human rights lawyer and worked at the International Criminal Court before entering the New Zealand Parliament in 2016. Ghahraman is the first refugee elected as a member of Parliament in New Zealand. The allegations against her relate to two specific incidents in clothing stores late last year, and she is under police investigation. Last week, the Greens announced that Ghahraman had stepped back from her responsibilities, and police continue their investigation into the theft. Before the allegations became public, she had faced criticism for participating in protests in support of Palestinians. James Shaw, a leader of the Green Party, responded to Ghahraman's resignation by stating that she had been 'under a lot of pressure and stress' since her election to the New Zealand Parliament. He added that Ghahraman had been subjected to threats of sexual, physical violence, and death, and such stressful conditions undoubtedly have 'consequences.' Mr. Shaw expressed empathy for the fact that Ghahraman has recognized she is in a state of 'severe mental distress.' Marama Davidson, another party leader, emphasized that Ghahraman's resignation was the 'right action' but lamented that the party would lose a 'unique voice' on many issues. According to the Green Party, Ghahraman has made significant efforts regarding the rights of refugees and migrants during her political activities. This Iranian-origin MP, during the recent nationwide protests in Iran, supported the protesters, especially Iranian women, and criticized their violent repression by the Islamic Republic.