Cleaners in Jordan capital Amman to bin orange jumpsuits over ISIS videos

AMMAN (AFP) - Jordan's capital Amman said Tuesday it is replacing the orange jumpsuits worn by its city cleaners because of their similarity to those of hostages murdered in Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) videos.

The jumpsuits - believed to be meant as a symbol of the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay - have been worn by hostages killed by ISIS in grisly videos, including a Jordanian pilot burned alive last month.

Starting from March 20, Amman's more than 6,000 street cleaners will trade in their orange jumpsuits for turquoise uniforms, city authorities said in a statement.

The decision was taken at the request of city residents and the brother of Maaz al-Kasaesbeh, the deceased pilot, because "the colour orange is now associated with the terrorist practices of Daesh," the statement said, using an Arabic acronym for ISIS.

Turquoise was chosen after a poll conducted on the city's website and though social media, the statement said.

ISIS, which has taken control of large parts of Iraq and Syria, has dressed hostages including Western journalists and aid workers, as well as Egyptian Coptic Christians, in orange jumpsuits before killing them in recorded executions.

Jordan is a member of the US-led coalition carrying out air strikes against ISIS and intensified its campaign after the killing of Kasaesbeh, whose F-16 went down over Syria in December.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.