New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he would encourage Britain's King Charles III to return the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond to India, one of the world's most controversial jewels due to its colonial history.

The statement was made during a press conference in New York City, a few hours before the memorial ceremony for the victims of September 11, 2001. Mamdani said that, in a possible conversation with the British monarch, he would encourage the return of the historic diamond.

The Royal Palace has not commented, while the mayor's office has not officially reacted to the statement. The Koh-i-Noor diamond, weighing about 105 carats, is part of the Tower of London (Crown Jewels) and has a long history of passing between empires and rulers in Asia and the Middle East, before ending up in British possession in the 19th century.
India has repeatedly sought its return, considering it a cultural heritage taken during the colonial period. India gained independence from Britain in 1947, and the diamond issue remains a sensitive issue in relations between the two countries.

According to recorded history, the gemstone passed through the hands of various rulers, including Indian, Persian, and Afghan emperors, before being taken by the East India Company during British colonial expansion into Punjab. The Koh-i-Noor debate has remained open for decades, with demands for its return to India continuing to be raised periodically by various governments and activists.

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