Golriz Ghahraman, the first refugee elected to New Zealand’s parliament, resigned on Tuesday amid allegations of shoplifting.
She attributed these actions to personal stress and trauma. Ghahraman, a member of the centre-left Green Party and its justice spokesperson, is currently under police investigation. The investigations are in response to three theft allegations from boutique clothing shops.
A former human rights lawyer, Ghahraman acknowledged that her actions were uncharacteristic and irrational, falling below the expectations of a politician. She expressed her need to focus on her mental health, explaining that work-related stress led her to behave in uncharacteristic ways.
According to Ghahraman, a mental health professional, she identified her actions as consistent with an extreme stress response and previously unrecognized trauma. She admitted to letting down many people and expressed remorse for her actions.
Ghahraman, born in Iran and a refugee to New Zealand at a young age, has had a notable career. After studying law, she entered New Zealand’s parliament in 2017. The theft accusations against her include two incidents in an Auckland luxury clothing store and one in a Wellington high-end clothes retailer, all occurring in late 2023.
Following these allegations, the Green Party announced that Ghahraman had resigned from her portfolio responsibilities.
