On average 78 percent of Muslims identified themselves as British, according to a study conducted by the Open Society Institute and cited by Sunday Times on December 13.

The study, funded by George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist, was conducted over two and a half years, involving 2,200 in-depth interviews and 60 focus groups in 11 cities across Europe with large Muslim communities.

The cities were chosen to be representative of varying levels of integration and cohesion across the continent.

The results show that on average 78 percent of Muslims identified themselves as British, 49 percent considered themselves French and just 23 percent who feel German.

The survey found that levels of patriotism are much higher among second-generation Muslims.

In Leicester, 72 percent of Muslims born abroad said they felt British compared to 94 percent among UK-born Muslims.

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Nazia Hussain, director of the research project, believes the study shows a discrepancy between how British Muslims see themselves and how the society looks at them.

"There is a disturbing message that emerges from these findings," Hussain told the Times.

"Even though Muslims overwhelmingly feel British, they’re not seen as British by wider society," she added.

A 2007 survey by the Financial Times showed that Britons are the most suspicious about Muslims.

"That said ... there has been a policy of trying to accommodate difference here and it appears to be paying off," said Hussain.

Britain's Muslims, estimated at some 2 million, have taken the full brunt of anti-terror laws since the 7/7 terrorist attacks on London underground system.

Last June, a BBC survey found that the majority of British Muslims are against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda movements and would defend their country against any possible attack.

An earlier ICM/Guardian poll showed that 91 percent of British Muslims were loyal to Britain and 80 percent still wanted to live in and accept Western society.