German officials are concerned by results of a recent study which found more than a fifth of Germany's estimated 4 million Muslims value their "cultural background" more than integrating into society.

Germany's English language newspaper The Local reported on the study, conducted by the German Interior Ministry. Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, in a separate interview with German publication Bild, called the results worrying. "Germany respects the background and cultural identity of its immigrants," he said. "But we don't accept the importation of authoritarian, anti-democratic and religiously fanatical points of view."

"The Daily Life of Young Muslims in Germany" study identified a "subgroup" of 14 to 32 year olds who are considered religious extremists, hold anti-western views and are reportedly prepared to use violence. Among non-German Muslims, this subgroup comprises 24 percent of the total population. Among German Muslims, 15 percent fit that class. The study also found 33 percent of non-German Muslims expressed prejudice against Jews.

The non-German Muslim population favored integration into German society by 52 percent while 48 percent "strongly leaned toward separation." Among German Muslims, the integration figures were 78 percent favoring and 22 percent against.