Young Muslims less devout

Only 48% of Austrian Muslims consider themselves "practicing", according to a study by a leading Austrian sociologist of religion, Paul Zulehner.

The study, entitled Religious Practice of Austrians 1970-2010, shows a "rapid transition in values" from the first to the second generation of Muslim immigrants, Zulehner said, a precipitous drop that came as a surprise to the researchers.

Among first generation Muslims, 99% of men and 61% of women are willing to submit to religious authorities, while for the second generation the numbers shrink to 55%, and 31%, respectively.

In a parallel shift, older men are generally more in favour of traditional gender roles, while only 15% of women in the second generation view their place as being "in the home with the children."