On Tuesday, Golriz Ghahraman, the first refugee elected to New Zealand’s parliament, resigned amidst allegations of shoplifting, which she attributed to personal stress and trauma.
Ghahraman, a member of the centre-left Green Party and its justice spokesperson, is under police investigation for three theft allegations from boutique clothing shops. The former human rights lawyer admitted her actions were inexplicable, acknowledging that she fell short of political standards and needed time to address her mental health.
Attributing her behavior to work-related stress, Ghahraman stated that extreme stress responses, coupled with previously unrecognized trauma, led to actions inconsistent with her character. She expressed remorse for letting down people and clarified that her actions were irrational. Born in Iran, Ghahraman, 42, moved to New Zealand as a refugee child and entered parliament in 2017 after working as a UN human rights lawyer.
The theft accusations involve incidents at luxury clothing stores in Auckland and Wellington in late 2023. Last week, the Green Party announced Ghahraman’s withdrawal from her portfolio responsibilities during the ongoing police investigation. Prior to the public revelation of the allegations, she faced criticism for her involvement in pro-Palestine protests.
Green Party co-leader James Shaw noted the mounting pressure on Ghahraman, citing continuous threats of sexual violence, physical violence, and death threats since her election. Shaw empathized with her extreme mental distress, acknowledging the challenging environment she faced during her six years in parliament. Co-leader Marama Davidson deemed Ghahraman’s resignation the right decision but lamented the loss of a “lone voice” on various portfolios, highlighting the challenges faced by women, especially women of color, with public profiles.
