Texas Republican Molly White makes Muslims swear allegiance to America – while stood next to an Israeli flag

The state representative has instructed Muslim visitors to her office to ‘renounce Islamic terrorist groups’

A protester waves the Israeli flag at the Texas Capitol as a group gathers for a Texas Muslim Capitol Day rally in Austin (AP)

A Texan Republican has announced instructions for any Muslims wishing to visit her state offices or staff: “Renounce Islamic terrorist groups and publicly announce allegiance to America and our laws.”

Molly S. White, the state representative for Texas, based in Austin, left the instructions for her staff to administer to potential visitors as people took to the city’s streets to celebrate Texas Muslim Capitol Day.

According to the Texas Tribune, the day has been celebrated since 2003, and is organised by the Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and is designed to let Muslims from all over the state to visit the Capitol, meet state representatives, and learn about the political process involved in state affairs.

Post by Molly White.

Ms White, who was not present at yesterday’s celebrations, posted on her Facebook page: “I did leave an Israeli flag on the reception desk in my office with instructions to staff to ask representatives from the Muslim community to renounce Islamic terrorist groups and publicly announce allegiance to America and our laws.

“We will see how long they stay in office.”

Event organisers questioned the ethics behind Ms White’s actions, and wrote to House Speaker Joe Straus about the issue, but were simply told: “Legislators have a responsibility to treat all visitors just as we expect to be treated – with dignity and respect.”

An estimated 420,000 Muslims live in Texas, the eighth largest state-population in the US, the Texas Tribune reports. Around 100 people attended the event on Thursday, though it was the first time that protesters had also turned up to the event.

Ms White, who has previously “assured” her Facebook followers that “assimilating into the American way of life” is “not the intent of most Muslims who move to America”, released a statement on her use of the flags.

She said she welcomed all of her constituents who would like to visit her Texas State Capitol office, the Texas Tribune reported, adding: “As law-abiding American citizens, we all have the privilege and the right to freedom of speech granted to us by the First Amendment.

“As a proud Texan and American I fully denounce all terrorist groups or organisations who’s [sic] intent is to hurt and destroy the great state of Texas and our nation.”