United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT January 20, 2006
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 05-60153
Summary Calendar
NAZIA K. NOORANI,
Petitioner,
versus
ALBERTO R. GONZALES, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,
Respondent.
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Petition for Review of an Order of
the Board of Immigration Appeals
USDC No. A79-550-349
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Before HIGGINBOTHAM, BENAVIDES, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Nazia K. Noorani seeks review of a Board of Immigration
Appeals’ decision affirming the denial of a petition for
withholding removal by an Immigration Judge and a request for
asylum. Noorani is a native of Pakistan, and is a Shia Muslim. She
points to significant tension in Pakistan between Shia Muslims, a
minority sect, and Sunni Muslims, the large majority of the
population. The mosque where Noorani worships was attacked by
Sunnis in 1990 and in 1996. She came to the United States in 1998,
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that
this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except
under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
No. 04-11519
-2-
and claims that if she were to return to Pakistan she would be a
victim of escalating violence between the Sunni and Shia sects. The
Immigration Judge denied both the asylum and withholding of removal
claims, and was the BIA adopted and affirmed the decision without
opinion.
Ordinarily, we review only BIA decisions and do not consider
the decision of the Immigration Judge. Efe v. Ashcroft, 293 F.3d
899, 903 (5th Cir. 2002). Here, however, the BIA adopted the
reasoning of the Immigration Judge and we review the IJ’s decision.
We uphold the Immigration Judge’s decision unless the evidence
compels the opposite outcome. Jukic v. I.N.S., 40 F.3d 747, 749
(5th Cir. 1994).
The withholding of removal is mandatory if Noorani proves that
her “life or freedom would be threatened ... because of [her] race,
religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or
political opinion.” 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(A). She must establish a
clear probability that it is “more likely than not” that her life
or freedom would be threatened on return to her country. I.N.S. v.
Stevic, 467 U.S. 407, 429-30 (1987). Noorani has presented evidence
of sporadic attacks on her family mosque with tear gas as recently
as 1996, and general evidence that there is increasing tension
between the two groups. This is insufficient to compel the opposite
outcome of the IJ’s decision. We therefore AFFIRM.