Mamdani Suggested UK Should Return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond. Here’s the Back Story.
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- The Koh-i-Noor diamond, historically seized by various rulers, was acquired by Britain in 1849 and is currently part of the British crown jewels at the Tower of London.
- India and other South Asian and Middle Eastern countries demand the diamond's return, viewing it as stolen property and a symbol of colonial exploitation.
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly urged King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond during a news conference ahead of a ceremony in New York.
- Mamdani's statement marks one of the few instances of a prominent American official advocating for the diamond's repatriation.
