Golriz Ghahraman, a Green Party member from New Zealand, tendered her resignation after being accused of theft, which prompted a police inquiry.
The former UN human rights attorney, who in 2017 became the nation’s first refugee in the government, is reportedly accused of stealing from two Wellington and Auckland apparel retailers, according to BBC News.
Surveillance video purportedly captured Ghahraman stealing a high-end purse from an Auckland store. The 42-year-old MP expressed regret and accepted that her acts did not adhere to the usual standards of behavior for elected members, even though she has not been charged with any crimes.
Ghahraman said, “I have let down a lot of people, and I am very sorry,” and explained her actions as a result of stress at work.
She acknowledged that her recent behavior did not align with reason, and an assessment of her mental state revealed that she was not in good health. Ghahraman emphasized that her intention was not to provide justifications for her behaviour.
James Shaw, the co-leader of the Green Party, emphasized in his resignation that Ghahraman had been subjected to ongoing threats since her election to Parliament, including threats of physical and sexual violence as well as murder.
The results of her actions might have been influenced by stressful conditions that were made worse by ongoing police inquiries into these threats.
Ghahraman has already spoken out about the mistreatment she experienced because of her gender, Iranian ancestry, and public positions on a range of topics.
She was forced to have security escorts accompany her back and forth from Parliament and carry a security alarm due to threats.
She was given an escort in 2017 as a result of threats made by white nationalists.
Ghahraman’s resignation is thought to have been caused by the combination of stress and trauma, despite criticism for her participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and her opinion on Israel’s war activities.
In response to Ghahraman’s anxiety, co-leader of the Green Party Marama Davidson expressed her continuous support while raising more general concerns about how women with public profiles—particularly women of color—are treated.
