Almost a quarter of British Muslims said acts of violence could be justified against those publishing images of Mohammed.
According to a survey commissioned by Radio 4’s Today programme, over 27 per cent said they felt they could sympathise with the motives of the gunmen who murdered the Charlie Hebdo journalists in Paris
In the poll carried out by ComRes of 1000 UK Muslims, 32 per cent said they were not surprised at the Paris attack, while 80 per cent said they found it deeply offensive when images of Mohammed were published in the media.
The poll asked questions on political, cultural and faith issues.
Twenty per cent of respondents said they felt practising Islam could never be compatible with liberal Western society, although 95 per cent said they felt loyalty towards Britain.
The poll also suggested that nearly half – 46 per cent - felt the UK is becoming less tolerant and that prejudice against Islam is making it harder to practise their religion.
Almost three million Muslims live in the UK.
