Editing Tabot (section)

==Looting and repatriation of tabots==
{{Image frame | width=199 |content=[[File:Äthiopien Tabot Linden-Museum 90290.jpg|199px]]|caption=An uncovered tabot at the [[Linden Museum]] in Stuttgart (2008).}}
Although [[Ethiopia]] was never colonised by the British, many ''tabots'' were looted by British soldiers during the [[1868 Expedition to Abyssinia]], also known as the [[Battle of Magdala]], and is a cause of anger among Ethiopians.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Westminster Abbey stops Ethiopian priests visiting holy tablet | first=Dalya | last=Alberge | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/01/westminster-abbey-ethiopian-holy-tablet | newspaper=[[The Observer]] | date=1 June 2019}}</ref>

The return in February 2002 of one looted tabot, discovered in the storage of [[St John's, Edinburgh|St John's Episcopal Church]] in [[Edinburgh]], was a cause of public rejoicing in [[Addis Ababa]].<ref>{{Cite news| archive-date=2011-08-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810035902/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20020127/ai_n9626611/ | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20020127/ai_n9626611 | via=Find Articles | title=Ethiopian joy as church returns Ark of Covenant; Handover may… | first=Jenifer | last=Johnston | newspaper=[[Sunday Herald]] | date=27 January 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=22 April 2002|first=Odhiambo|last=Okite|title=Ethiopia: Returning a Tabot|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/april22/17.22.html|website=Christianity Today}}</ref> Another was returned in 2003 after Ian McLennan recognised the ancient ''tabot'' at an auction in London. He bought it and donated it to the government of Ethiopia.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3034860.stm | first=Damian | last=Zane | title=Raided Lost Ark returns home | website=[[BBC News]] | date=1 July 2003}}</ref>

In February 2024, the Dean of Westminster Abbey agreed in principle to return the ''tabot'' which is sealed inside an altar in [[Westminster Abbey]] to Ethiopia. This is dependent on the consent of the Royal Household as the Monarch has jurisdiction over the Abbey.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Simpson |first=Craig |date=2024-02-13 |title=Westminster Abbey to return sacred tablet to Ethiopia after consulting with King |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/13/westminster-abbey-tablet-to-ethiopia-consulting-with-king/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>