MEMORANDUM **

Rafi Oudabachian, a native and citizen of Syria, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying his application for withholding of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence factual findings, Nagoulko v. INS, 333 F.3d 1012, 1015 (9th Cir. 2003),and deny the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the IJ’s denial of withholding of removal because Oudabachian’s fear of civil unrest and violence in the Middle East generally does not establish it is more likely than not that he will be persecuted on the basis of his religion. See id. at 1018 (fear of future harm is too speculative); see also Hakeem, v. INS, 273 F.3d 812, 816 (9th Cir. 2001) (“An applicant’s claim of persecution upon return is weakened, even undercut, when similarly-situated family members continue to live in the country without incident....”). Accordingly, his withholding of removal claim fails.

Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s finding that Oudabachian did not establish a likelihood of torture by, at the instigation of, or with the consent or acquiescence of the Syrian government. See Villegas v. Mukasey, 523 F.3d 984, 988-89 (9th Cir. 2008). Accordingly, his CAT claim fails.

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.