Dutch court rejects bid to ban "Black Pete" seasonal character

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A court in the Netherlands rejected a request by anti-racism activists to ban images of the seasonal Dutch holiday character Black Pete from state television, but encouraged debate over a tradition which has prompted protests on both sides.

Citing technical grounds, district Judge Antoon Schotman said a summary filing by opponents of Black Pete had been lodged too close to the festivities to be heard in time. But he said an issue that touches on the country's sensitive colonial past should be debated further.