"Actions I Regret... I Will Take Responsibility"
Experience Working at the International Criminal Court as a Human Rights Lawyer
Golriz Garaman, a refugee-born politician who became the first New Zealand Member of Parliament, ultimately resigned voluntarily after being investigated on suspicion of shoplifting.
On the 16th (local time), New Zealand media such as Stuff reported that Garaman, a center-left Green Party MP, expressed her intention to resign from her parliamentary position that day. She decided to resign voluntarily after being investigated on suspicion of stealing items from a high-end clothing store.
In a statement, Garaman said she needed time to recover her mental health. She said, "The mental health professional I consulted explained that my behavior was a reaction to extreme stress and related to trauma I had not previously recognized." She added, "I apologize for disappointing many people and acknowledge that this behavior cannot be rationally explained in any way. I do not want to hide behind my mental health issues and will take full responsibility for my regrettable actions."
Golriz Gharaman, New Zealand Member of Parliament. [Image source=Golriz Gharaman Instagram·Yonhap News]
The incident first became known when it was reported by New Zealand media on the 10th. CCTV footage released by local media showed a woman looking around before picking up clothes and putting them into her bag.
As the controversy grew, New Zealand police only stated that they were investigating theft incidents at a high-end clothing store in Auckland and a high-end clothing retailer in Wellington. They did not confirm whether the incidents were related to Garaman.
Meanwhile, Garaman, born in Iran in 1981, sought political asylum in New Zealand with her family shortly after the Iran-Iraq War. After studying law in New Zealand, she worked as a human rights lawyer at the International Criminal Court before entering Parliament in 2017. She was re-elected as an MP in the 2020 and 2023 elections.
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