Masroor Abbas Ansari

Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari is a Kashmiri religious and political leader, scholar, cleric, preacher, activist and theologian in Jammu and Kashmir. He is the Chairman of Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM), a Kashmiri nationalist Shia separatist political party that aims for Shi'a–Sunni unity in Kashmir and is also a religious organization that conducts the Grand Ashura Procession in Kashmir. He is the President of Al-Abbas Relief Trust, Karan Nagar, Srinagar, and a Senior leader of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), an alliance of 26 political, social, and religious organizations formed on 9 March 1993 as a united political front to unite Jammu and Kashmir. | Indian policemen detained Masroor Abbas Ansari during a protest in Srinagar against the recent killings in Kashmir }  He succeeded his father Mohammad Abbas Ansari after his death. Ansari is a religious leader of Kashmiri Shia Muslims, chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen, and Senior Leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.(JKLF).

Early life and education
Ansari was born on 12 August 1975, in Srinagar. He graduated from the Oriental College in Srinagar and then went to Kashmir University. Later, he traveled to Iran to study at the Qom Seminary. After 14 years of study in Iran he returned to Kashmir.

Career
Ansari is the president of Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM). He was the Sub Editor of the monthly Urdu magazine "Safina," which was published from Al-Abbas Relief Trust, Government Medical College Road, Karan Nagar, Srinagar. He is a senior leader of All Parties Hurriyat Conference. He has been detained many times over the Kashmir conflict. On 9 July 2023, he was detained again.

Ansari, said that the police action against peaceful mourners on and before Ashura in 2022 is reprehensible and that the government's assertion of taking action during the pandemic is false, as participants were following all SOPs.

8th Muharram processions
Ansari on Friday 2023 hailed the decision of LG administration including Lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha to lift the 34 year old ban on 8th Muharram procession.

On 9th Muharram, he urged the authorities to release all religious leaders, lift the ban on the traditional Ashura procession and allow Friday prayers at Srinagar's historic Jamia Masjid without any hindrance. In 2023, Ashura processions in Kashmir were held in Srinigar.

2018 Controversy
On 15 October 2018, a day after Ansari was detained by police in view of Local Body Polls, thousands of people from Shia-community from Mirgund, Rambail, Matipora and its adjoining areas staged a protest while blocking the Srinagar Muzaffarbad Highway at Mirgund Pattan on Sunday.

2019 Crackdown
The Hurriyat Conference on Thursday demanded the release of its chairman and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has been under house arrest since the abrogation of Article 370 by the centre on 5 August 2019.

"Mirwaiz is under house detention since 5 August 2019 and none is allowed to visit and meet him," said a Hurriyat Conference spokesman.

He said three Senior Hurriyat leaders Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari, Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat and Bilal Lone were denied permission to meet Mirwaiz at his Nageen residence, where he has been under detention since 5 August 2019.

After many attempts to meet him but leader were denied.

In September 2019, Molana Masroor Abbas was also house arrest. Thousands protests for there leaders detention. Then, Police have released Shia cleric and Hurriyat leader Molvi Masroor Abbas Ansari from house detention. Masroor Abbas Ansari, who is the president of Ittehadul Muslimeen was detained three days ago on the eve of Ashura-e-Muharram. In July 2020, police personnel deployed outside his house at Nawakadal were removed and he was set free.

2016 Crackdown
All Parties Hurriyat Conference (m) chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was arrested when he marched towards Eidgah on Friday. A statement issued by Hurriyat Conference (m) said that in accordance with the joint resistance program of the 'Eidgah Chalo' today, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was detained outside his Nigeen residence as soon as he tried to march towards 'Eidgah. Earlier, Syed Ali Geelani too was arrested. After than Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen president Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari was arrested by police from his residence at Nawa Kadal before Friday prayers. He had tried to lead march towards Eidgah. Then thousands of people protest in Srinagar for their leaders arrest.

Masroor Abbas is known for his workings around Kashmir valley. From 2010 when he returned from Qum, He organized Islamic educational classes for the common people, young and old in Srinagar Kashmir and preached them about Islam.

Alliance to Political Party
Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari in talks with Hurriyat leaders to join party. The J&K Apni Party (JKAP) has opened channels of communication with a senior separatist leader, associated with the Hurriyat, to join the party in Srinagar. Earlier, an officer bearer associated with Hurriyat leader Masroor Ansari, who heads the Ittihadul Muslimeen, joined the JKAP. Mr. Ansari, taking a strong note of the development, said: "Denial and deviation from the fundamental principles of our organization was not acceptable under any circumstances. We are committed to save the credibility of the party and the principles of our Late founder in particular. Any person holding any position will be thrown out from the party if he acts contrary to the organizational constitution and fundamental rules.”"  Maulana Masroor Ansari Tweeted. An emergency meeting of the core committee of the Jammu and Kashmir Ittehad Muslimeen was held under the chairmanship of Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari, the president of the organization, in which using the powers given to the president in the constitution, the organization's Majlis-e-Administrator Working Committee) was dissolved and a new one was formed. An ad-hoc committee consisting of only 5 members was constituted till the election of the working committee and office-bearers. In this emergency meeting, the resignation of General Secretary Syed Muzaffar Rizvi was also approved.

Reformation in Azadari system
After his arrival from Qom, Iran, a transformation in Azadari swept through the Kashmir valley. Previously, only Marsia were recited by the Zakirans in Muharram gatherings. However, he, with his visionary approach, revolutionized the traditional Azadari system by introducing the Ashra-Majlis system, a series of ten sermons delivered by religious scholar especially during night hours in the month of Muharram. This novel concept brought about a remarkable change as no such Ashra Majlis had been held in Kashmir before.

With his captivating speeches across various locations in the Kashmir valley, Masroor swiftly gained widespread fame like his father. His ideology resonated deeply with the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, who warmly embraced his teachings. Expanding his reach, he conducted extensive classes and lectures in different parts of Kashmir. Through these enlightening sessions, he passionately preached about the profound significance of the Battle of Karbala and earnestly emphasized the responsibilities of the younger generation.

Educational upliftment
Masroor Abbas worked for the upliftment of the educational level of Shia community in Kashmir valley. In the initial stages when he arrived back to Kashmir, Masroor organized different classes to teach different subjects especially ethics in modest rooms at different places, the impact of his words was immense, as he imparted the teachings of the Islamic religion to these eager minds. Additionally, he selflessly collaborated with other Islamic organizations to further advance their shared goals in this noble endeavor. Maulana Masroor in his Friday prayer sermons mostly stressed on education and in his lectures, he shed light on how important education is for the successful society. Maulana Masroor organized and participated into number of educational conferences and seminars to propagate the values of education. He also participated in educational conferences of different colleges as representative of Shia community. Masroor President of Ittehad ul Muslimeen and Chairman of Madina Public School Bali haran, where he emphasised to teach Kalam as well and more than half of the kashmiri seminary scholars are his students.

Academia
Ansari is currently president of Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen, Senior leader of All Parties Hurriyat Conference and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front. Despite political activity, He is Founder of Al Abbas Relief Trust and chairman of Madina Public School and many is Islamic schools.