Iranian-born New Zealand MP steps down amidst shoplifting claims

A parliamentarian from New Zealand stepped down following allegations of shoplifting at high-end local boutiques on at least three occasions.

Golriz Ghahraman, the 42-year-old MP from the Green Party, in a statement, said that "mental health issues and work-related stress" made her act completely out of character.

"It's not a behaviour I can explain because it's not rational in any way, and after medical evaluation, I understand I'm not well," she said, adding that she did not want to make excuses for herself.

"The mental health professional I see says my recent behaviour is consistent with recent events giving rise to extreme stress response, and relating to previously unrecognised trauma."

Meanwhile, police said they are probing the issue after a CCTV footage surfaced purportedly showed her attempting to steal items from high-end clothing stores in Auckland and Wellington. They did not confirm whether Ghahraman was involved in the incident, reports Reuters news agency.

The Iranian-born woman has been in parliament since 2017 and was the first refugee to become a member of parliament.

Ghahraman fled Iran as a child with her family, who were all granted political asylum in New Zealand.

Green Party co-leader James Shaw said that Ghahraman had been been facing "continuous threats of sexual violence, physical violence, death threats since the day she was elected to Parliament", report BBC.

"That has added a higher level of stress than is experienced by most members of parliament," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)