Having a panic attack is not a crime

What it's going to take for us to all move on

Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash

As we all know, Golriz Ghahraman has stepped down from her role in Parliament and now seemingly faces legal charges. It is important to clarify at the outset that she has not pled guilty to these charges and has the right to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise. We still don’t have all the facts.

In her resignation statement, however, Ghahraman confessed to unspecified misconduct, attributing her actions to struggles with mental health, intensified by an undisclosed traumatic experience. Her decision to resign, she explained, was driven by a need to focus on her wellbeing and address the issues that led to her inappropriate behaviour.

The boundaries of public scrutiny and when enough is enough

This development should mark the end of public scrutiny into Ghahraman's actions as she steps out of public life. Remember, the alleged offences do not involve misuse of her public office. So what we should want is for her to be granted the space and respect to address her legal matters and mental health concerns privately, maintaining her dignity throughout this challenging time.

Dragging the affair back into the discourse

Regrettably, the situation has not remained this straightforward. Some of Ghahraman's supporters, rather than confining their responses to empathy for an ally facing both personal and legal challenges, insist on further politicising the issue.