New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would ask King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond to India.
The request highlights a long-standing international dispute over colonial-era acquisitions and the ethics of repatriating cultural artifacts to their countries of origin.
Mamdani said this Wednesday during the British monarch's visit to New York City. The mayor spoke at the wreath-laying ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, which coincided with the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
The Koh-i-Noor is a 105.6-carat diamond [1] currently held by the British Crown. The jewel was given to Queen Victoria in 1849 [2] during the period of British colonial rule in India.
Mamdani framed the demand as an anti-colonial stance. He said he would encourage the return of the contested jewel because it was acquired during the colonial era [3].
While the diamond remains one of the most famous gems in the world, it has been the subject of multiple repatriation claims from India and other nations. The British monarchy has historically maintained the diamond as part of the Crown Jewels, while critics argue its presence in London serves as a reminder of imperial exploitation [3].
The mayor's comments come as King Charles III engages in diplomatic activities in the U.S. The timing of the request, occurring during a solemn memorial event, underscores the tension between formal state visits and the push for historical restitution [4].
“Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would ask King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond to India.”
This interaction signals a shift where local U.S. officials are leveraging high-profile diplomatic visits to amplify global repatriation movements. By linking the return of the Koh-i-Noor to anti-colonial principles, Mamdani is aligning the city's political rhetoric with a broader international trend of demanding the return of looted artifacts from former imperial powers.
