# Masroor Abbas Ansari

Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari (Urdu: مولانا مسرور عباس انصاری) is Kashmiri Twelver Shia Scholar. He is also cleric, preacher, activist, theologian, religious and political leader 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. He is also a senior leader of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). 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 March 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.

## Clash with central govt

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on 12 march declared two Jammu and Kashmir-based parties -- Awami Action Committee headed by Hurriyat Conference chairman and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) chairman and shia leader Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari -- as unlawful associations and banned them with immediate effect for a period of next five years.
"Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen and Awami Action Committee have been declared unlawful associations under UAPA. These organisations were found inciting people to cause law and order situations, posing a threat to the unity and integrity of Bharat," Union Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X.
He said that anyone found involved in activities against the nation's peace, order and sovereignty is bound to face the "crushing blow" of the Modi government. The Home Ministry, in its official order, stated that JKIM, chaired by Masroor Abbas Ansari, is indulging was unlawful activities, which were prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country. "The members of the JKIM have remained involved in supporting terrorist activities and anti-India propaganda for fuelling secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir," the order read. Similarly, for AAC, the MHA said its members have remained involved in supporting terrorist activities and anti-India propaganda to fuel secessionism in J&K. “The leaders and members of the AAC have been involved in mobilising funds for perpetrating unlawful activities including supporting secessionist, separatist and terrorist activities in J&K,” the notification read.
It stated that different FIRs have been registered against Umar Farooq for anti-India speeches and for supporting bandh calls and calling for polls boycott. According to the notification, the Central government is of the opinion that if there is no immediate curb or control of the unlawful activities of the AAC, it will use this opportunity to continue these and advocate secession of J&K while disputing its accession to the Union of India. The Centre alleged that the leaders and members of JKIM have been involved in "mobilising funds" for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting secessionist, separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry said JKIM members showed sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set up of the country. "The JKIM involved in promoting and aiding the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from India by indulging in anti-national and subversive activities; sowing seeds of discontent among the people; inciting people to destabilise law and order, encouraging the use of arms to cause secession of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India and promoting hatred against the established Government," the order read. The MHA said that the Central Government is firmly of the opinion that having regard to the activities of the Jammu and Kashmir Ittehadul Muslimeen (JKIM), it is necessary to declare the JKIM as an unlawful association with immediate effect.

## 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.

## 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.

## 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.