Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari (; born 1975) is a separatist political leader, Kashmiri religious leader, cleric, scholar, preacher, peace activist, theologian, and representative leader of Shia Islam 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.

As the religious leader of Kashmiri Shia Muslims and chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen, Masroor Abbas Ansari has an important religious and political role in the Kashmir Valley. He is seen as the spiritual leader of Kashmir's Muslims. As the Senior Leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, he raises his voice about Kashmir and attempts to revive the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).

Early life and education
Masroor Abbas Ansari was born on 12 August 1975, in Srinagar to the influential Ansari family.
He received his basic education and Islamic theories from his family and learned Arabic and Persian.  After his preliminary education at a 
school in Srinagar, he graduated from the Oriental College in Srinagar. Then, he pursued his education at Kashmir University. Later, he traveled to Iran to join the Qom Seminary for further studies.He majored in Arabic literature, Philosophy, Hadith, Tafseer, Islamic Jurisprudence, Political Science, Islamic Philosophy, Quranic exegesis, Mantiq, Logic,  Tawhid, Kashf al-Asrar, Tahrir al-Wasilah,Islamic  Government, Uṣūl al-fiqh, Tafsīr, Nahj al-Balagha. After 14 years of study in Iran he returned to Kashmir and preaches islam.

Services
Molvi Masroor Abbas Ansari is a religious scholar, public orator, and writer. He 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 because he raised concerns over the Kashmir Conflict. On 9 July 2023, Maulana was detained again. He has written many books and articles in Urdu and Arabic. Some of his famous books are: "Hadees Qustuntia," "Shia aur Islam," and "Molvi Mustafa Ansari."

Azadaris
Shia cleric and Jammu Kashmir Ithadul Muslimeen president, Molvi Masroor Abbas Ansari, said that the police action against peaceful mourners on and before Ashura this year 2022 is reprehensible. He claims that the government's assertion of taking action during the pandemic is a blatant lie, as participants were following all SOPs. He is a supporter of Ashura processions in Kashmir.

8th Muharram processions 
Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen President and Senior leader All Parties Hurriyat Conference Hujatul islam Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari on Friday 2023 hailed the decision of LG administration including Lieutenant governors of Jammu and Kashmir Mr Manoj Sinha  to lift the 34 year old ban on 8th Muharram procession saying he acknowledges efforts made by all wings of the administration towards this end. 

Addressing a 9th Muharram gathering at Alamgiri Bazar, Masroor Abbas however gave credit of Thursdays 8th Muharram procession to the youth who have struggled all these years and paved the way for its restoration on the traditional route. 

On 9th Muharram, he urged the authorities to release all religious leaders, lift ban on traditional Ashura procession and allow Friday prayers at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid so that Muslims can offer prayers there without any Hindrance.

In 2023, They were successful to conduct Ashura processions in Kashmir including 8th Muharram and 10th Muharram in Srinagar.

2018 Controversy
In 15 October 2018, a day after Hurriyat leader Maulana Masroor Abbas 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.

Witnesses said that scores of people from Shia-community blocked Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road near Mirgund against the arrest of Ithaad-ul-Muslimeen leader Molana Masroor Abbas Ansari.

Amid pro-freedom and pro-Islam slogans, the protesting people demanded immediate release of the Hurriyat leader who was arrested on Saturday from his residence at Srinagar and lodged in police station Safa Kadal as a precautionary measure in view of ULB polls in the select areas of Srinagar on Saturday.

The protestors said that the condition of their leader was not good, he was in need of proper care but despite repeated pleas authorities have put him behind bars.

Meanwhile, after getting assurance from top police officer of Pattan the protestors called-off their protest peacefully.

Leadership of Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen

On 10 july 2023, influential Shia leader and Hurriyat leader Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari, whose father was a Hurriyat Conference chairman, along with many others were detained by police from a Srinagar hotel on Sunday. Police said prima facie that they were planning to revive the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).

A spokesman of Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen in a statement said party chairman Maulana Masroor Ansari was detained along with some others during the Eid Milan (Eid gathering) in Srinagar today.

The Eid Milan was organized at a Srinagar hotel.

Sources said about 40 people were present in the hotel room when it was raided by police.

Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen was one of the constituent party of the moderate Hurriyat Conference led by cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

“Deeply Worrisome”

Shia leader and councillor SMC Aga Syed Muhammad Hussaini termed the detention of Molvi Masroor Abbas as deeply worrisome.

Police in the late evening issued a brief statement about the incident.

“A search was conducted on the basis of credible information about the meeting of some ex-trts of JKLF & erstwhile separatists in a hotel in Srinagar (sic),” tweeted Srinagar police.

“They were brought to Kothibagh PS for verification. An inquiry has started, prima facie it came out that they were planning to revive JKLF & Hurriyat,” it further stated.

Masroor Ansari’s father Maulana Abbas Ansari was the former Hurriyat Conference chairman. He died in October 2022 after a brief spell of illness.

During Mohammad Abbas Ansari’s tenure as President of Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen and  Hurriyat chairman, the Hurriyat leaders had entered into talks with the then National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government headed by Ex PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Previously in 2020 he was barred from attending ashura functions Anantnag.

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 August 5, 2019.

"Mirwaiz is under house detention since August 5, 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 August 5, 2019.

After many attempts to meet him but leader were denied.

On 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. On 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.

Academia 
Maulana Masroor Abbas 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.

Positions and activities

He has held following positions:
 Imam-e-Jummah (leader of the Friday prayers) at the Masjid Sajjadia, Chattabal, Srinagar,
 Senior Leader of All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
 Leader of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front
 President  of Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen
 Chairman of Madina Public School, Bali haran, Baramulla
 Senior Member of Majlis e Ulama e Imamia
 Head of Al Abbas Relief Trust.

Views

Islamic views 
Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari  has said that the message of Hussainiyat the path of Prophet Muhammad(pbuh), Imam Ali and Imam Hussain ibne Ali is the headspring of freedom, independence, and peace. He Always Advised to youth to recite Quran and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Ale bait.

Political views 
As Senior leaders of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, He supports the liberty of Kashmir and Palestine, and says that international organizations must play their role in stopping atrocities in Kashmir, Palestine, Bahrain, Yemen, Syria, Qateef, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Rohingya. He believes no oppression can succeed against the spirit of Karbala, and that the oppressed will always be victorious. He claims that terrorism, injustice, corruption and obscenity are all un-Islamic forms of Yazeediyat and can be confronted by carrying the flag of Hussainiyat.

On extremism
Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari is one of the Islamic scholars who openly condemned and spoke against terrorists and terrorism when it was at its peak in Pakistan and most Islamic scholars were reluctant to speak about it. He took a stance and urged the Government to crush every terrorist network.

See also
 Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen
 All Parties Hurriyat Conference
 Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front
 Kashmir conflict
 Mohammad Abbas Ansari
 Destruction of Kashmiri Shias

References

External links
 Lectures & speeches of Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari
 Videos of prominent Shia scholars and religious leader Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari

1975 births
Living people