MP in New Zealand resigns after shoplifting allegations

New Zealand Member of Parliament, Golriz Ghahraman, has resigned after numerous allegations of shoplifting.

Green Party's Ghahraman allegedly stole three times from two clothing stores. The former UN human rights lawyer made history in 2017 as the first refugee in New Zealand's government.

She said that she started behaving "strangely" due to stress.

"I've let a lot of people down and I'm really sorry," she added.

Ghahraman fled Iran with her family as a child and received political asylum in New Zealand. She resigned on Tuesday after CCTV footage emerged on social media showing her picking up a bag from an Auckland boutique, the BBC reports.

The 42-year-old, who has not been charged with any crime, said in a statement that her actions were inconsistent with the high standards of behavior the public expects from elected representatives.

"I cannot explain my behavior because it was in no way rational. After the medical assessment, I realized that I was not well", she emphasized, adding that she did not want to make excuses.

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One of the leaders of the Green Party, James Shaw, reacting to her resignation, has said that Ghahraman was exposed to threats of sexual violence, physical violence and death threats since the day she was elected to parliament.

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