Opinion Poll : French Split on Charlie Hebdo Cartoons on Prophet Muhammad; 57% Support, 42% Don't

Amid increasing protests over Charlie Hebdo cartoons, an opinion poll conducted in France has found that almost half of the French are opposed to publishing cartoons of Prophet Muhammad as Muslims consider them 'offensive'. 

The IFOP poll found that 42% respondents were against the publication of the cartoons as they found caricatures on Prophet Muhammad offensive.

On the other hand, almost 57% said that opposition from Muslims should not come in the way of the publication of the cartoons. 

Interestingly, 50% of the participants said that they supported "limitations on free speech online and on social networks," an AFP report noted.

The poll found an overwhelming percentage of French citizens  - 81% - in favour of stripping French nationality from dual nationals if they indulge in terrorism on French soil.

Another 60% want to ban French citizens from returning to their country if "they are suspected of having gone to fight in countries or regions controlled by terrorist groups," like Syria.

The same number of French citizens also wanted to impose a ban on citizens suspected of wanting to join terrorist groups such as Islamic State (ISIS).

The poll report also highlighted that almost 57% of French do not want their government to sent the military to intervene in countries such as Syria, Libya and Yemen.

IFOP poll was conducted last week following the attack on the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris,where the two Islamist radicals gunned down 12 people to 'avenge Allah' as the satirical newspaper had repeated published 'offensive' cartoons on Prophet Muhammad.